Jon Berti, member of Yankees’ 2024 AL championship team, retires after 8 MLB seasons: ‘Hell of a journey’
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A member of the Yankees’ 2024 American League championship team is hanging up his spikes.
Infielder Jon Berti announced his retirement from professional baseball after eight MLB seasons in an emotional Instagram post Thursday.
“I’ve been on a social media hiatus the last year or so and I’ll probably dip out again, but just wanted to give an update,” Berti’s post began.
“After a lot of thought and consideration, I have decided to retire from professional baseball. It’s been a hell of a journey, full of ups and downs. I’m very grateful for all the opportunities and lessons that baseball has given me over the last 15+ years.
“I want to thank the Toronto Blue Jays, Cleveland Guardians, Miami Marlins, New York Yankees, and Chicago Cubs for giving me a chance to play the game I love professionally. It was an honor to represent such great MLB organizations.”
Berti, 36, appeared in four games with Team Italy during the World Baseball Classic this year, slashing a strong .375/.444/.688 with a home run, but couldn’t latch on with a major league organization.
An 18th-round pick of the Blue Jays in 2011, the Troy, Michigan, native spent eight seasons in the minor leagues before making his MLB debut with the team.
After just four games, Berti was designated for assignment and joined the Marlins on a minor league pact, a move that turned out well for his career.
The versatile and speedy Berti became a key part of Miami’s lineup, seeing time at every outfield position and every infield spot outside of first base.
In 73 games, he slashed .273/.348/.406 with six homers, 24 RBIs and 17 stolen bases.
He picked up where he left off during the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign, which included a historic base-running performance against the Mets.
On August 25, 2020, he became the first player in Marlins history to steal three bases in a single frame, including a dramatic theft of home plate — in which a stumbling Berti bear-crawled to score — during the sixth inning of a 3-0 win against New York.
“The last one there was just a thought that kind of came up in the moment,” Berti said postgame, per MLB.com. “I’ve always kind of wanted to do it, or thought of doing something like that, and fortunately it worked out.”
After an up-and-down 2021, Berti showcased his base-stealing in 2022, swiping a National League-leading 41 bags for Miami.
Berti posted career-bests in average (.294), homers (seven) and RBIs (33) in 2023, his final year with the Marlins in 2023.
With uncertainty around oft-injured infielder DJ LeMahieu, the Yankees acquired Berti in a three-team deal on the eve of Opening Day in 2024.
Berti enjoyed a solid start to his career in pinstripes, but a high-grade calf strain in late May ultimately kept him sidelined for three-and-a-half months.
With Anthony Rizzo sidelined during the ALDS, the ever-versatile Berti made his first career start at first base in Game 2 — and made a series of his strong plays in the 4-2 loss.
Berti became just the fifth player in MLB history to start a postseason game at a position he’d never fielded before, per MLB.com.
“I’m doing the best I can to learn and be an athlete,’’ Berti said after the game. “I felt good overall. I don’t expect it to be perfect. I’m just trying to be a baseball player and I felt pretty comfortable.”
After sustaining a hip flexor injury in the ALCS, Berti was kept off the World Series roster, marking the end of his time in pinstripes.
In his final MLB action, Berti appeared in 51 games with the Cubs last season before being DFA’d in August.
“Last but not least, thank you to all my family and friends who joined me for the ride,” Berti added. “All the love and support from my amazing wife, parents, and brothers. I couldn’t have had all the success I did without you all in my corner.
“Not bad for an undersized kid from Michigan. I’m excited for what’s to come. Until next time.”