Cleveland Indians' Michael Brantley reaches 200 hits

The Cleveland Indians were eliminated from playoff contention on Friday night, but Saturday’s game held some individual milestones — particularly for left fielder Michael Brantley, who became the first Indians hitter since 1996 to notch 200 hits with a fourth-inning single on Saturday.

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Brantley became the first Cleveland hitter ever to have at least 20 stolen bases, 20 home runs, 40 doubles and 200 hits in a single season.

The last Indians hitter to reach 200 hits was former center fielder Kenny Lofton in 1996.

It’s the 28th time in Indians history a batter has registered 200-plus hits, with 18 hitters accomplishing the feat. Brantley also makes some American League history, as he joins Jacoby Ellsbury’s 2011 season, Alfonso Soriano in 2002, and Nomar Garciaparra in 1997 as the only hitters to match a 20/20/40/200 season.

Brantley’s hitting has taken a huge leap forward this year as he doubled his career-high for home runs, and it’s also the first time in his career he’s stolen 20 bases or more (Brantley has 23 on the year). He’s striking out fewer than he ever has before, with a 8.3 percent strikeout rate this season, and has been worth an MVP-caliber 6.8 fWAR on the season.

Brantley’s 156 games this season also marks a career best, and the 27-year old outfielder signed a four-year extension with the Indians in the offseason, so Indians fans can hope for more exciting seasons to come.

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Cleveland Indians’ Michael Brantley reaches 200 hits

By Ed Carroll | Sep 28, 2014

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