A member of the Yankees\u2019 2024 American League championship team is hanging up his spikes.<\/p>\n
Infielder Jon Berti announced his retirement from professional baseball after eight MLB seasons in an emotional Instagram post Thursday.<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve been on a social media hiatus the last year or so and I\u2019ll probably dip out again, but just wanted to give an update,\u201d Berti\u2019s post began.<\/p>\n Berti announced his retirement after eight MLB seasons. Charles Wenzelberg \/ New York Post<\/p>\n \u201cAfter a lot of thought and consideration, I have decided to retire from professional baseball. It\u2019s been a hell of a journey, full of ups and downs. I\u2019m very grateful for all the opportunities and lessons that baseball has given me over the last 15+ years.<\/p>\n \u201cI 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.\u201d<\/p>\n 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\u2019t latch on with a major league organization.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Berti made history in August 2020, becoming the first player in Marlins history to steal three bases in a single inning during a game versus the Mets at Citi Field. Charles Wenzelberg\/New York Post<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n The versatile and speedy Berti became a key part of Miami\u2019s lineup, seeing time at every outfield position and every infield spot outside of first base.<\/p>\n In 73 games, he slashed .273\/.348\/.406 with six homers, 24 RBIs and 17 stolen bases.<\/p>\n He picked up where he left off during the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign, which included a historic base-running performance against the Mets.<\/p>\n On August 25, 2020, he became the first player in Marlins history to steal three bases in a single frame<\/a>, including a dramatic theft of home plate \u2014 in which a stumbling Berti bear-crawled to score \u2014 during the sixth inning of a 3-0 win against New York.<\/p>\n \u201cThe last one there was just a thought that kind of came up in the moment,\u201d Berti said postgame, per MLB.com<\/a>. \u201cI\u2019ve always kind of wanted to do it, or thought of doing something like that, and fortunately it worked out.\u201d<\/p>\n After an up-and-down 2021, Berti showcased his base-stealing in 2022, swiping a National League-leading 41 bags for Miami.<\/p>\n Berti enjoyed his best run with the Marlins from 2019-23, which included an NL-best 41 stolen bases in 2022. Charles Wenzelberg\/New York Post<\/p>\n Berti posted career-bests in average (.294), homers (seven) and RBIs (33) in 2023, his final year with the Marlins in 2023.<\/p>\n With uncertainty around oft-injured infielder DJ LeMahieu, the Yankees acquired Berti in a three-team deal <\/a>on the eve of Opening Day in 2024.<\/p>\n Berti enjoyed a solid start to his career in pinstripes, but a high-grade calf strain <\/a>in late May ultimately kept him sidelined for three-and-a-half months.<\/p>\n With Anthony Rizzo sidelined during the ALDS, the ever-versatile Berti made his first career start at first base in Game 2 \u2014 and made a series of his strong plays in the 4-2 loss.<\/p>\n