Brantley's 2014 Career Highs, Career Firsts, & Franchise Records

because Michael had a personal best season, he set a lot of new career highs for himself, and had some career firsts as well. and if that wasn't enough, he also made Indians history a few times this year. therefore, i thought it would be a good idea to group all of those special moments together in one place. yes, i already wrote blogs about these momentous occasions, with all their finite details. so to make this blog different, i've included a short summary of each occurrence and then a link to the appropriate blog where much more information can be found. don't be afraid to click them to see pictures and videos of these events.

now without further ado, here are Michael Brantley's 20 career highs, 1 career low, 9 career firsts, and 3 franchise records from his 2014 campaign.

on April 2, Michael achieved a new franchise record of 247 consecutive errorless games as an outfielder. in Game 2 of a doubleheader against the Oakland Athletics, Michael was switched from left field to center and Ryan Raburn went from PH to left field in the bottom of the 6th inning. in the bottom of the 7th inning, Raburn did not hear Michael call for Josh Donaldson's fly ball. so his glove banged into Michael's, and neither outfielder caught the ball. Michael was then charged with an error, ending his errorless streak in the outfield at 247 straight games. my blog with all the details about this is here.

on May 19, Michael hit his first career walk-off home run in a game against the Detroit Tigers. it came on a full count with 2 outs and no one on in the bottom of the 10th inning against Al Alburquerque. my blog with all the details about this is here. Michael finished the year with 2 walk-off home runs.

on May 30, Michael achieved a new franchise record 19-game home hitting streak. it happened in the game against the Colorado Rockies, when he hit a 1-out double to deep center field after a 1-0 count in the bottom of the 5th inning against Juan Nicasio. sadly, his historical streak ended the following day when he went 0-for-4. my blog with all the details about this is here.

on June 10, Michael set a new career high of 5 hit by pitches--his first career high of the season--when he was hit by 2 pitches in a game against the Kansas City Royals. he first got hit by Jason Vargas with 1 out in the top of the 6th inning on an 0-2 pitch. then he was hit for a second time by Vargas after an 0-1 count with 2 outs and Asdrubal Cabrera on 1st base in the top of the 8th inning. his previous career high was 4, set in 2013. i actually did not write a separate blog highlighting this occasion, because i just didn't think a career high in HBP was all that exciting or really worth blogging about. i regret that now. however, i did acknowledge it in Michael's June #s blog here. Michael finished the year with 8 hit by pitches.

on June 15, Michael set a new career high of 11 home runs. he was facing Brandon Workman of the Boston Red Sox in the top of the 1st inning, and on the 7th pitch of a 2-2 count, Michael hit a 2-out home run to deep right field. his previous career high was 10, set in 2013. my blog with all the details about this is here. Michael finished the year with 20 home runs, which is also a new Brantley family record.

on June 16, Michael was given his first career American League Player of the Week honor for June 9-15. Michael bat .538 (14-for-26) with 3 doubles, 2 homers, 3 RBI, 9 runs scored, and 3 walks during this time period. he led all major league hitters in batting average, runs scored, and OBP (.665), and led all AL hitters in hits (14), total bases (23), and times on base (20). my blog with all the details about this is here.

on the same day, Michael suffered what would be diagnosed as his first career mild concussion. hey, a career first is a career first, good or bad lol in the bottom of the 3rd inning of the game against the Los Angeles Angels, Michael took a blow to the head/neck area from John McDonald's knee as he slid into 2nd base while trying to break up Jason Kipnis' inning ending double play. he played the top of the 4th inning, but was taken out of the game before the top of the 5th inning as a precaution. on June 17, he said his neck felt stiff and he felt pressure in his head. the Indians sent him to the Cleveland Clinic for more evaluation and, on June 18, it came out that he had a mild concussion. the Indians believed he would progress quickly and would not need to go on the 7-day concussion DL. my blog with all the details about this is here.

on July 1, Michael was involved in his first career triple play when he got his 10th outfield assist of the season. in the bottom of the 4th inning of the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Dee Gordon was on 3rd base and Yasiel Puig was on 1st. after 1-2 count from Kyle Crockett, Adrian Gonzalez hit a fly ball to left field. Michael caught it and threw out Gordon at home when Yan Gomes applied the tag. then Gomes caught Puig trying to go to 2nd base on the play at the plate, so Gomes threw the ball to Kipnis, who then got Puig out at 2nd base. after 2 manager's challenges, one from Terry Francona and one from Don Mattingly, the triple play became official. my blog with all the details about this is here.

on July 15, Michael played in his first career All Star Game. this year it took place at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Michael was a defensive substitute in center field, playing 4 innings from the top of the 6th inning to the top of the 9th. he went 0-for-1 in his only at bat of the game in the bottom of the 6th inning, grounding out to 2nd base. he also recorded 1 putout in the top of the 9th inning. my blog with all the details about this is here.

on July 21, Michael set a new career high of 67 runs scored. he came in to pinch hit for Ryan Raburn in the top of the 8th inning in a game against the Minnesota Twins, and hit a 1-out double against Casey Fien after a 2-0 count. Michael advanced to 3rd base on Nick Swisher's groundout to 1st, then scored on Roberto Perez's 2-out single to center field. his previous career high was 66, set in 2013. my blog with all the details about this is here. Michael finished the year with 94 runs scored.

on July 22, Michael was named the Indians recipient of his first career MLBPAA Heart & Hustle Award for 2014. one player from every team in the league is chosen for this preliminary honor and then one final winner is picked, through voting. the winner should be announced sometime in mid-November. my blog with all the details about this is here.

on August 7, Michael set a new career high of 48 extra base hits. he hit a 2-out double to right field after a 1-0 count in the top of 1st inning in the game against Homer Bailey and the Cincinnati Reds. his previous career high was 47, set in 2012. my blog with all the details about this is here. Michael finished the year with 67 extra base hits.

on August 8, Michael set a new career high of 223 total bases. he hit a leadoff double after an 0-1 count in the top of the 6th inning against former Cleveland Indians pitcher, David Huff, now of the New York Yankees. his previous career high was 222, set in 2012. my blog with all the details about this is here. Michael finished the year with 309 total bases.

on August 9, Michael set a new career high of 74 RBI. he hit a solo home run off the top of the right field foul pole in the top of the 8th inning. it came against Yankee pitcher Chase Whitley after a 1-1 count. so he drove himself in to achieve the new career high lol his previous career high was 73, set in 2013. my blog with all the details about this is here. Michael finished the year with 97 RBI.

on September 1, Michael was celebrated by the Indians with his first career bobblehead giveaway. it was given out to fans at the Labor Day game against the Tigers. i of course went to the game and later did a very thorough review of the bobble. my blog with all the details about this is here.

on September 2, Michael set a new career high of 160 hits. his first hit of the game against the Tigers was a 2-out single to right field off Kyle Lobstein after a 3-2 count. his previous career high was 159, set in 2012. my blog with all the details about this is here. Michael finished the year with 200 hits.

on September 4, Michael set a new career high of 38 doubles. in the game against the Tigers, Michael hit a leadoff double to center field off Max Scherzer's first pitch in the bottom of the 4th inning. his previous career high was 37, set in 2012. my blog with all the details about this is here. Michael finished the year with 45 doubles.

on September 5, Michael set a new career high of 18 stolen bases. he stole 2nd base in the bottom of the 1st inning against Chicago White Sox pitcher Chris Sale. Michael initially got on base with a 2-out single to left field on the 5th pitch of a 1-2 count. then he took off for 2nd when Sale threw ball 2 to Carlos Santana after a 1-2 count. Michael made it safely to 2nd, and then advanced to 3rd base on catcher Tyler Flowers' throwing error. his previous career high was 17, set in 2013. my blog with all the details about this is here. Michael finished the year with 23 stolen bases.

on September 11, Michael set a new career high of 12 outfield assists in Game 2 of the doubleheader against the Twins. with Chris Parmelee at 1st base in the top of the 3rd inning, Brian Dozier flew out to left field and Michael made the catch for the 2nd out of the inning. but Parmelee was already at 2nd base by this time and got doubled off 1st when Michael threw the ball to shortstop Jose Ramirez, who threw it to 1st baseman Chris Gimenez. Michael was also credited with a double play, his 2nd of the year. his previous career high was 11, set in 2013. my blog with all the details about this is here. this was Michael's final outfield assist of the year.

on September 12, Michael set a new career high of 612 plate appearances. in the game against the Tigers, he hit a 2-out single to left field in his first at bat (as the DH) against David Price in the top of the 1st inning after a 1-2 count. that hit of course counted as an official plate appearance, allowing him to set the new record. his previous career high was 611, set in 2013. my blog with all the details about this is here. Michael finished the year with 676 plate appearances.

on September 13, Michael set a new career high of 557 at bats. with 2 outs and Mike Aviles at 2nd base in the top of the 5th inning against the Tigers' Kyle Lobstein, Michael hit a line drive to right field after a 1-0 count. Torii Hunter recorded the out, but it was still an official AB, marking the new high. his previous career high was 556, set in 2013. my blog with all the details about this is here. Michael finished the year with 611 at bats.

on September 14, Michael set a new career high of 120 singles. he led off the top of the 9th inning against Tigers' closer Joe Nathan. after a 2-2 count, Michael sent a liner to right field for a base hit. his previous career high was 119, set in 2013. my blog with all the details about this is here. Michael finished the year with 133 singles.

on September 19, Michael achieved his first career 20-20 season when he hit his 20th home run of the year. it came when he led off the top of the 6th inning against Phil Hughes in the game against the Twins at Target Field. he was DHing and the game was tied at 2. on the first pitch, he hit a bomb past the seats in right field and onto the concourse area, securing himself a spot in Indians history as the 9th player to hit 20 home runs and steal 20 bases in one season. my blog with all the details about this is here.

on September 22, Michael set a new career high of 152 games played as soon as the game against the Royals started. it was pretty simple to achieve, he didn't even need to have an official at bat. his previous career high was 151, set in 2013. my blog with all the details about this is here. Michael finished the year with 156 games played.

on September 27, Michael set a new career high of 1297.2 innings played. in the top of the 3rd inning, Carlos Carrasco was facing Tampa Bay Rays catcher, Ryan Hanigan. on the first pitch, Hanigan flew out to center field for out #1, and that 1 out gave Michael his new career high. his previous career high was 1297.1 innings, set in 2013. my blog with all the details about this is here. Michael finished the year with 1304.1 innings.

later in that same game, Michael achieved a new franchise record with 200 hits, 40 doubles, 20 home runs, and 20 stolen bases in one season, becoming the 1st Indians player in club history to do this. it happened in the bottom of the 4th inning, when Michael came to bat against Alex Colome with 1 out and the Tribe down, 1-0. after a 1-0 count, he hit a single into center field. that single represented hit #200 for Michael, along with a (re-set) new career high, career first, and new Indians record. my blog with all the details about this is here.

on September 28, Francona opted not to play Michael in the season finale game against the Rays. that meant his 2014 season was officially complete, giving him new career highs with a .327 batting average, .385 OBP, .506 SLG, and .890 OPS. these numbers were established after Michael's final at bat of the year on September 27 in the game against the Rays. he led off the bottom of the 9th inning against Jake McGee with the Tribe down, 2-0. after a 1-2 count, Michael struck out on a foul tip, and that is how he ended his career year. his previous career highs were .288 BA, .348 OBP, .402 SLG, and .750 OPS, set in 2012. my blog with all the details about this is here.

additionally, once Michael's season was finalized, he set a new career low of 1 caught stealing. as a result, that also gave him a new career high with a 23:1 stolen base:caught stealing ratio. the only time Michael got caught this year was during Game 1 of a doubleheader against the Tigers on July 19, and his final successful stolen base came on September 22 in the game against the Royals. his previous career highs were 4 caught stealing and a 17:4 SB:CS, set in 2013. my blog with all the details about this is here.

lastly, yesterday on September 29, Michael received his first career Hank Aaron Award Nomination for 2014. one player from every team is nominated and the award goes to one player from each league. the winners are chosen based on fan voting and a panel of Hall of Famers. voting closes on October 5 at 11:59 pm EST. the winners will be presented with the award sometime during the World Series, which begins on October 21. my blog with all the details about this is here.


next up: a blog with all of Michael's game-by-game numbers and notes from 2014.