Indians Top 100 Prospects: #12 Michael Brantley

12. Michael Brantley - Outfielder
Born: 05/15/1987 - Height: 6'2" - Weight: 195 - Bats: Left - Throws: Left

Year	Age	Team	Lvl	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
2005	18	AZ Brewers	R	44	173	34	60	3	1	0	19	22	13	14	.347	.426	.376	.802
	18	Helena	R	10	34	8	11	2	0	0	3	6	4	2	.324	.425	.382	.807
2006	19	West Virginia	A	108	360	47	108	10	2	0	42	61	51	24	.300	.402	.339	.741
2007	20	West Virginia	A	56	218	41	73	15	1	2	32	31	22	18	.335	.413	.440	.853
	20	Huntsville	AA	58	187	28	47	6	1	0	21	29	25	17	.251	.353	.294	.647
2008	21	Huntsville	AA	106	420	80	134	17	2	4	40	50	27	28	.319	.395	.398	.793
		Career		383	1392	238	433	53	7	6	157	199	142	103	.311	.399	.372	.771

History:  Brantley was a 7th round pick in the 2005 Draft out of Fort Pierce Central High School (FL).  The Indians acquired him in October 2008 as the player to be named later in the C.C. Sabathia trade.  In 2007, he made the rare jump from Low-A to Double-A when he was promoted mid-season, and the Brewers decision to push him right to Double-A was a clear indication of how far along they felt he was as a prospect and how important he was to the organization.  His father is also former major leaguer Mickey Brantley. 

Strengths & Opportunities:  Brantley is just about everything you want out of a leadoff hitter.  He is one of the best players in the minors at making consistent contact and bringing a solid plan to every at bat by being patient at the plate, making consistent contact, hitting for average, and getting on base.  At just 21-years of age, his bat-to-ball ability is phenomenal and he has displayed an elite level approach at the plate striking out just 27 times in 420 at bats this past season ranking second in the entire minor leagues with a strikeout per plate appearance ratio of 17.7 (27 K in 479 PA).  In his four year minor league career, Brantley has struck out just 142 times in 1633 total plate appearances (11.5 AB/K).  While he has only drawn 199 walks in his career, he has an extraordinary ability to consistently put the bat on the ball.  He also has plus speed to steal a base at anytime.  Brantley's best comp may be as a Kenny Lofton type offensive player, a hitter who can steal 30-40 bases and can pound the gaps and hit the occasional home run and pile up 40-50 extra base hits in a season.  

Brantley does not have much power, but as a leadoff hitter this is not a necessity and he projects as a doubles type hitter as his power is still expected to develop more along the way.  He is now just a shade under 6'3" and is 195 pounds and expected to get even bigger.  He certainly has the body to be more powerful as he is hardly built like a 5'8" 160-pound "slap-hitter", but for him to become more powerful and drive the ball more consistently into the gaps it all depends on his bat speed and strength in his hands and arms.  He has sacrificed some of that bat speed in order to make more consistent contact, so if he can continue to mature and grow into his body and also learn how to speed up his bat without taking too much away from his bat-to-ball ability, he could become a special player.  Last year he had just 23 extra base hits in 420 at bats, and in his minor league career has just 66 extra base hits in 1392 at bats.  He probably would have fared much better in the extra base hit department last season had he not suffered an ankle injury in early July which hindered him the final two months of the season and limited him to four total extra base hits. 

At 6'3", athletic, and with plus speed, Brantley moves like a gazelle out in the outfield.  He is also versatile enough where he can play all three outfield positions, and he even played some first base in the Brewers organization last year.  He has had trouble getting good jumps on balls which has limited his range somewhat, and he has an average to below average arm, so he will never be an elite defensive outfielder.  Even still, after the Brewers messed around with Brantley at three different positions in left field, center field and first base, the Indians plan to focus on keeping Brantley in center field.  He still projects to be at least an average to above average defender and will continue to work hard on improving defensively. 

Outlook:  Brantley brings a much needed asset to the Indians organization that had been missing in the upper levels of the system, which is a bona fide leadoff hitting prospect.  The Indians have been waiting for a player to come along to plug into the leadoff spot in place of Grady Sizemore, and he just might be the guy.  His skills would not have been valued five years ago, but in the post-steroid era the game is changing back to one that focuses more on offensive players who make consistent contact, have speed, and play defense.  He has raced up the prospect rankings and climbed the minor league ladder quickly, and in a few years many people feel he will be a star and the best player the Indians received in the Sabathia trade.  He will open the 2009 season in Triple-A Columbus at 21-years of age and won't turn 22 until mid-May. 

Photo courtesy of Huntsville Stars Media Relations 

Michael Brantley MinorLeagueBaseball.com stats page 

Michael Brantley Baseball-Reference page 

Michael Brantley MinorLeagueSplits.com page 

Michael Brantley video:

Posted in: Michael Brantley