Rob Brantly

Amateur career

Brantly attended Chaparral High School in Temecula, California. The Washington Nationals picked him in the 46th round of the 2008 MLB draft, but he chose not to sign and instead went to the University of California, Riverside. After his freshman year, he played summer ball for the La Crosse Loggers in the Northwoods League, where he was named the league's top prospect. As a sophomore, he earned a spot on the Big West Conference's first team.

Professional career

The Detroit Tigers drafted Brantly in the third round (100th overall) of the 2010 MLB draft. He began his pro career with the West Michigan Whitecaps of the Single-A Midwest League, hitting .251 in 52 games. He started 2011 back in West Michigan and was selected for the Midwest League All-Star Game before moving up to the Lakeland Flying Tigers of the High-A Florida State League in July, finishing the year with a .274/.324/.400 line across 114 games.

Miami Marlins

In 2012, he played for the Erie SeaWolves of the Double-A Eastern League and the Toledo Mud Hens of the Triple-A International League, earning a spot in the All-Star Futures Game. On July 23, 2012, Brantly, Jacob Turner, and Brian Flynn were traded to the Miami Marlins for Aníbal Sánchez and Omar Infante. He was assigned to the New Orleans Zephyrs of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League and got his first MLB call-up on August 13, making his debut the next day as the starting catcher against the Philadelphia Phillies, going 0-for-3.

He finished that season batting .290/.372/.460 over 100 at bats in 31 games. Brantly was the Marlins' Opening Day catcher in 2013 but struggled at the plate, hitting .211/.263/.265 with 1 home run and 18 RBI in a career-high 223 at bats while also dealing with injuries. He spent all of 2014 with Triple-A New Orleans, posting a .255/.291/.341 slash line. On December 8, 2014, the Chicago White Sox claimed him off waivers.

Seattle Mariners

He split most of the year between the Double-A Birmingham Barons and Triple-A Charlotte Knights, batting .121/.167/.242 in 14 major league games. The Seattle Mariners claimed him off waivers on March 12, 2016, but he was designated for assignment on April 3 after losing the backup catcher competition to Steve Clevenger. He spent the season with the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers, slashing .244/.268/.432 with career highs in home runs (14) and RBI (43), then elected free agency on November 7.

Cincinnati Reds

On December 3, 2016, he signed a minor league contract with the Cincinnati Reds, playing 46 games for the Triple-A Louisville Bats and hitting .298/.335/.435 before being released on June 29.

Did You Know?

• Brantly was named the top prospect of the Northwoods League after playing for the La Crosse Loggers in 2009.
• Brantly was traded to the New York Yankees for cash considerations on August 26, 2020.