Jon Berti, member of Yankees 2024 AL championship team, retires after 8 MLB seasons: Hell of a journey

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...