Jon Berti, who broke into the majors with the Blue Jays, is calling it a career at 36.
He announced the decision on Instagram, closing out a 15-season professional career, eight of them in the majors.
"After a lot of thought and consideration, I have decided to retire from professional baseball," Berti wrote.
"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."
Berti was drafted by Toronto in the 18th round back in 2011 out of Bowling Green.
He climbed through the system with pure speed, leading the Florida State League with 56 stolen bases at Single-A Dunedin in 2013.
He added an Eastern League All-Star nod at Double-A New Hampshire after swiping 38 bags there.
The stolen-base seasons that defined his career
Toronto traded him to Cleveland early in 2018, then reacquired him before he made his Blue Jays debut that same season, starting at second base.
His best individual season came with the Marlins in 2022, when he led all of baseball with 41 stolen bases.
He also spent time with the Yankees in 2024, appearing in 25 regular-season games and four postseason games during their run to the World Series.
His final stop was Chicago last season, where he hit .210 across 51 games before being designated for assignment and released.
Over eight big-league seasons, Berti finished with 512 games played, 24 home runs, 128 RBIs, and 108 stolen bases.
He closes his career with a .256 batting average and a .333 on-base percentage.
"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," Berti said.
For a player built on speed and versatility more than power, that list of five organizations says plenty about how far a utility glove and a burst of speed can carry a career.
Was Jon Berti's speed and versatility enough to make him a valuable big leaguer for 15 years?
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