Looks Like He Made It: Michael Brantley’s 200th Hit

Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

Throughout the course of a season, many Indians players will reach important career milestones, or reach impressive season achievements.  In this segment, we’ll try to keep track of all of them, while including a few interesting facts and what to watch for next.

Player:  Michael Brantley

Contract Status:  Under contract through the end of the 2017 season, with an $11 million option for 2018.

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Achievement:  With his single up the middle on Saturday against the Rays, Michael Brantley reached 200 hits on the season.

Details:  No Cleveland Indian has managed to smack 200 hits in a single season since Kenny Lofton in 1996.  Before that, Carlos Baerga reached 200 hits on his famous sprained ankle hit back in 1993.  Brantley also became the first player in Cleveland Indians history to collect 20 homers, 20 steals, 40 doubles and 200 total hits.  The last player to do that was Jacoby Ellsbury in 2011.  Brantley is the 18th Cleveland Indian to collect 200 hits in a single season, only the fourth in the past 50 years, and the first since the end of the steroid era.

What to Watch For Next:  The season is over, but if Brantley reaches the 200-hit mark again next year he could become just the fourth Cleveland Indian to do it in back-to-back seasons.  The all-time Indians record for hits in a single season is 233, set by Shoeless Joe Jackson all the way back in 2011

Did a Cleveland Indian reach a milestone that we forgot to celebrate?  Let us know!  We’re always on the lookout for more player achievements, so e-mail us at wahoosonfirst@gmail.com if you notice something we missed.