Five-time All-Star outfielder Michael Brantley retires after 15 seasons with Cleveland and Houston

After 15 MLB seasons, five-time All-Star and World Series victor Michael Brantley announced his retirement on Friday.

The outfielder has already secured his next position as a Little League coach.

“It’s time to be a dad, first and foremost, because I have young children,” Brantley stated to MLB.com. “It’s time for me to spend all of my time at home, watch my kids grow up, and not miss any significant occasions.”

Brantley spent ten years in Cleveland and five more in Houston, finishing his career with a batting average of.298. In 1,445 games during the regular season, he hit 129 home runs, 720 RBIs, and 125 stolen bases. In 62 playoff games, he batted.283, with a.327 average in two World Series with the Astros.

This winter, Brantley, 36, was a free agent. He played just 15 games during the regular season in 2023 before coming back to finish the season.

In order to finalize the transaction that brought left-hander CC Sabathia to the Brewers in 2008, Brantley was moved from Milwaukee to Cleveland. The next season, he made his Cleveland debut and remained there through the end of the 2018 campaign. After that, he signed with Houston, and in 2022, he was present to raise the Commissioner’s Trophy there.

After undergoing a fourth surgery on his right shoulder in late June of that year, Brantley had not played, but his teammates made him the focal point of the festivities.

For Brantley, that was the most memorable part. “I still get chills thinking about my teammates telling me to raise the trophy and placing me in the spotlight.” That is something I will never forget.

Read more on sportupdates.co.uk