Brett Gardner

At 40 years old, Brett Gardner has this physical status:

Brett Michael Gardner (born August 24, 1983) is an American professional baseball outfielder who is a free agent.

He has played for the New York Yankees in Major League Baseball (MLB). Gardner made his MLB debut with the Yankees in 2008 and was a member of the 2009 World Series championship team over the Philadelphia Phillies.

He was named an All-Star in 2015 and received a Gold Glove Award in 2016.

Gardner is the new longest-tenured New York Yankee.

Personal life

Brett and his partner, Jessica, have two sons together. The Gardners live in Holly Hill, South Carolina, during the offseason.

Jerry Gardner, Jerry Gardner, who competed for the Philadelphia Phillies in the minors, owns a 2,600-acre (1,100 ha) farm in Holly Hill. With his older brother, Glen, and Jerry and his mother, Faye, Brett was raised on the farm.

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Amateur career

Gardner attended Holly Hill Academy in Holly Hill, South Carolina, where he competed for the school's baseball team. He also played American Legion Baseball for St. George Post 105.

Gardner first attempted outs for the baseball team at the University of Charleston in 2001. Gardner joined the team and spent three years with the College of Charleston Cougars as a starter. Gardner had a.397 batting average in 2004, his junior year, but he was not drafted in the 2004 MLB draft. He batted.447 runs, tied for the most hits in college baseball with 122 runs, set a Cougars record of 85 runs scored, and led the Southern Conference with 38 stolen bases in 2005.

Professional career

Gardner was selected by the New York Yankees in the third round of the 2005 Major League Baseball draft, after his senior year in college. Gardner received a $210,000 signing bonus.

Gardner finished 268th in at bats (with 282), 54th in runs (62), and 78th in stolen bases (19) during the 2005 season. In 2006, he was batting.323 in 63 games with 22 runs batted in (RBIs) with the Tampa Yankees. He was third in the Florida State League in batting average and led the way in stolen bases with 30 runs during his tenure. Gardner finished second in the league in walks with 47 points.

He appeared in 54 games for the Double-A Trenton Thunder in 2007, but he missed time with a fractured bone in his hand. In 203 at bats, he stole 18 bases (tied for fifth in the league; though being caught four times) and batted.300 with a.392 on-base percentage (OBP). In 45 games, he batted.260 with a.343 OBP and stole 21 bases while being trapped only three times.

In fall 2007, he appeared in 26 games in the Arizona Fall League, leading it in runs (27) and stolen bases (16), though being caught just once. With a.433 OBP (third) and third in the league in walks, he batted.343 (third) and placed third in the league in walks with 17. According to Baseball America, he was the 12th-best prospect in the Yankees minor league system in 2007.

In 94 games, Gardner placed second in the International League, with a.414 on-base percentage, 70 walks, 11 triples, and sixth in the IL with 37 stolen bases, despite being caught only nine times.

He had a.291 batting average and a.389 OBP in the minor leagues from 2008 to 2008. He had stolen 153 bases but only 31 times (an 83% success rate).

Gardner was recalled and made his big league debut on June 30, 2008, batting last and converting 0-for-3 and grounding into a triple play. On July 2, he earned both his first pop out and first hit by pitch off fellow Texas Rangers relief pitcher Warner Madrigal in the seventh inning. Gardner was called back to AAA after the purchase of Xavier Nady in order to continue to play time on July 26, 2008. Gardner was called back by the Yankees in 25 days.

Gardner scored on a sacrifice fly by Robinson Canó in the eighth inning of an eventual 7-3 victory for the Yankees over the Baltimore Orioles on September 21, 2008. Gardner played in 42 games, batting.228 with 16 RBI and 13 stolen bases.

Gardner was named the Yankees' starting center fielder on March 29, beating Melky Cabrera for the job, but Cabrera will eventually move Gardner out of the position. Gardner played 108 games during the 2009 season, batting.270 with three home runs, 23 RBI, and 26 stolen bases. Gardner was also a part of the Yankees' postseason appearances, appearing in only one of the Yankees' postseason games and beginning the final two games of the World Series for the first time since 2000.

Gardner took over as the Yankees' starting left fielder in 150 games with a.277 batting average and 47 stolen bases in 150 games, while still having the highest number of pitches per plate appearance in the major leagues (4.61). He was also named the best defensive left fielder in MLB by the 2010 Fielding Bible Award.

Gardner underwent surgery on December 7, 2010 to get rid of inflammatory tissue in his wrist, according to Yankee general manager Brian Cashman, who said the Yankees will return to spring training in time.

Gardner led the Yankees in the 2011 season with a leadoff. He struggled in that position and was demoted to the bottom of the order. Gardner was back to the top of the order after Jeter was placed on the disabled list for a calf injury, alternating with Nick Swisher. Gardner and Jeter often shared the top of the order after Jeter's return and Alex Rodriguez's stint on the DL for knee surgery, with Gardner and Jeter often identifying the order, with Gardner as lead-off and Jeter second.

Gardner and Coco Crisp finished first in the American League in stolen bases in 2011, with both having 49. Gardner was named the best field left fielder in the MLB for his second straight Fielding Bible Award. Gardner played in 159 games, batting.259 with seven home runs and 36 RBI.

Gardner and the Yankees decided on a $2.8 million deal for the 2012 season, avoiding arbitration. Gardner sustained an elbow injury in 2012 and was scheduled to return in August. Gardner suffered a setback on July 16 and his chances of missing the entire season increased. Gardner underwent right elbow surgery, performed by Christopher S. Ahmad, on July 24, to remove a bone spur and inflamed tissue. After Steve Pearce and Justin Thomas were scheduled for assignment, he was reactivated on September 25. Gardner played in 16 games during 2012, batting.323 with two stolen bases and three RBI.

Gardner was moved to center field for the 2013 season after Curtis Granderson sustained a fractured right forearm during a spring training game. Gardner was named AL Player of the Week for the week from June 2nd to September 9th.

Gardner had two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning off of Detroit Tigers reliever José Veras on August 11, 2013. The home run gave the Yankees a 5–4 victory and helped support a struggling Mariano Rivera, who had three consecutive save opportunities for the first time in his career. Gardner made his first bailout of Rivera's pitching mishap by hitting a walk-off single past a diving Miguel Cabrera, giving the Yankees a 4-3 victory. Gardner was the first Yankee since Claudell Washington in 1988 to have two walk-off hits in a span of three or fewer games, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Gardner played 145 games in 2013, including eight home runs, 33 doubles, an American League-leading 10 triples, 52 RBI, and 24 stolen bases.

The Yankees and Gardner announced on February 23, 2014, that a four-year, $52 million contract extension would begin in 2015. Gardner made his first appearance in right field on April 23, 2014. Gardner's first home run off of Texas Rangers pitcher Yu Darvish on July 28, 2014, on his first home run in his career. On August 4, he was named AL Player of the Week. Gardner, the Blue Jays' Drew Hutchison, scored the 15,000th home run of the Yankees franchise on September 21, the 15,000th home run of the franchise. Gardner failed in September due to an injury, ending 12-for-72 (.167), putting an end to his good 2014 offensive season. Gardner changed his target, less relying on his declining speed and shifting his swing to gain more power. Gardner played in 148 games during the 2014 season, batting.256 with a career-high 17 home runs, 58 RBI, and 21 stolen bases, as well as the highest number of pitches per plate appearances in the major leagues (4.44).

Gardner was the Yankees' nominee for the Hank Aaron Award for the 2014 season. Gardner underwent surgery in his right arm to fix a rectus abdominis muscle injury that had plagued him in July and September.

Gardner was named AL Player of the Week for the week ending June 28, 2015. He was one of five candidates for the 2015 MLB All-Star Game, but he was later barred from the ballot after being chosen to substitute injured Alex Gordon on the All-Star team. Gardner's hot first half will not last the entire season; after batting.302 up to the All-Star break, he struggled for the remainder of the year, with.206 in the second half. Gardner received a roar of boos from fans at Yankee Stadium after going 0–4 with three strikeouts in the Yankees' 3–0 loss to the Houston Astros in the 2015 AL Wild Card Game.

Gardner continued his hitting game from the previous season, batting.259 with 16 home runs, 66 RBI, and 20 stolen bases.

Gardner was promoted to the Yankees' leadoff spot midseason after being primarily behind Jacoby Ellsbury during Ellsbury's tenure as a Yankee. Gardner ran against the Tampa Bay Rays on April 23, a walk-off home run. Gardner's on-base percentage in 2016 was.351, his highest in a full season since 2010, and his 70 walks were his first since the same season. However, his.713 OPS was tied for his lowest career mark in a full season. Gardner made.261 with seven home runs, 41 RBI, and 16 stolen bases for the 2016 season. His home run and RBI numbers were the lowest in a full season since 2011, while he had the lowest stolen base count of his career in a full season. He received the Gold Glove Award for American League left fielders.

Gardner collided with Rickie Weeks of the Tampa Bay Rays at first base on April 12, 2017. Both players were suspended from the game. Gardner did not suffer a serious injury and was left with a bruised jaw and strained neck. He was tagged by the Yankees as day-to-day. Gardner won by two home runs over the Baltimore Orioles on April 29, who had two home runs in a 12–4 victory over the Baltimore Orioles. Gardner won by 11-5 over the Toronto Blue Jays on May 2, giving him two home run games in two separate games. Gardner hit a go-ahead three-run home run off Hector Rondon, who was the game winner as the Yankees defeated the Chicago Cubs 3-2 on May 5. Gardner took the 1,000th blow of his career off Marco Estrada of the Toronto Blue Jays on June 1, his 1,000th hit of his career. Gardner went 3-for-5 with a grand slam and 6 RBIs on June 30, tying his career high, while falling a triple short of the cycle. Gardner's 18th home run of the season was a walk-off against the Tampa Bay Rays on July 27, marking a new career record for single-season home runs. Gardner led the game off with a leadoff home run the next day. Gardner had a walk-off single on July 29 with the bases loaded in the ninth's bottom. As the Yankees made the playoffs and finished one game shy of the World Series, Gardner hit 21 home runs, averaging 23 steals, and a.264 average. Gardner had a fruitful offseason, batting.286 with 2 RBI against the Cleveland Indians in the American League Division Series. He was deemed a Gold Glove finalist, but he ultimately lost to Alex Gordon of the Kansas City Royals.

Gardner made his 2018 debut as a member of a packed outfield. However, Gardner had more playing time than anticipated, despite suffering a wrist injury in spring training that sidelined him for the remainder of the season). He finished the season batting.236 (his lowest average since 2008), with 12 home runs and 45 RBI. On October 31, 2018, the Yankees announced that they had passed down his $12.5 million contract for 2019 and instead re-signed him to a one-year, $7.5 million deal for the 2019 season.

Gardner scored his 100th home run in his career, a grand slam off Ryan Brasier, to put the Yankees up by 5–3 over the Boston Red Sox in what would be the game-determining event. He was one of two players in Yankee history (alongside Derek Jeter) to hit at least 100 home runs and steal at least 250 bases. Gardner was placed on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to July 22) for left knee inflammation stemming from a surgery he suffered the previous week, placing him on the injured list for the third time in his major league career. On August 2, he was activated from the wounded list.

He finished third in Gold Glove voting

Gardner became a free agent after the 2019 season. Gardner was re-signed by the Yankees to a one-year deal with an option for the 2021 season.

Gardner, a fourth-outfielder role in the shortened 2020 season, appeared in 49 games, hitting.223 with five home runs and 15 RBI. Gardner's 2021 $10 million trade on him was turned down by the Yankees on October 29, 2020, making him a free agent.

Gardner agreed to a one-year, $4 million deal with the Yankees on February 23, 2021, which included an option for 2022. Gardner made his 14th Yankee position player to play 14 or more seasons with the Yankees on April 3, while playing left field against the Toronto Blue Jays. Despite beginning the season as a projected fourth outfielder due to injuries to Aaron Hicks, Gardner played in 140 games and finished with 10 home runs and 39 RBI. Gardner was not allowed to practice 2022 on November 4, making him a free agent. He was the last member of the 2009 World Series team to remain on the team.

Gardner was not signed by any team before the 2022 season; he remains a free agent.

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