Brett Gardner
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Brett Michael Gardner (born August 24, 1983) is an American former professional
baseball Baseball is a bat-and-ball games, bat-and-ball sport played between two team sport, teams of nine players each, taking turns batting (baseball), batting and Fielding (baseball), fielding. The game occurs over the course of several Pitch ...
outfielder An outfielder is a person playing in one of the three defensive positions in baseball or softball, farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder. As an outfielder, their duty is to catch ...
who spent his entire 14-year
Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball league composed of 30 teams, divided equally between the National League (baseball), National League (NL) and the American League (AL), with 29 in the United States and 1 in Canada. MLB i ...
(MLB) career with the
New York Yankees The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of the Bronx. The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Am ...
. Gardner was a
walk-on Walk On may refer to: Music Albums * ''Walk On'' (Boston album) or the title song, 1994 * ''Walk On'' (John Hiatt album) or the title song, 1995 * ''Walk On'' (Randy Johnston album) or the title song, 1992 *''Walk On'', by Kellie Coffey, 200 ...
for the
College of Charleston The College of Charleston (CofC or Charleston) is a public university in Charleston, South Carolina, United States. Founded in 1770 and chartered in 1785, it is the oldest university in South Carolina, the 13th-oldest institution of higher lea ...
's baseball team. Selected by the Yankees in the third round of the
2005 MLB draft The 2005 Major League Baseball draft, was held on June 7 and 8. It was conducted via conference call with representatives from each of the league's 30 teams. It is widely considered to be one of the best drafts in recent memory. ''SourceMajor L ...
, Gardner made his MLB debut with the Yankees in 2008 and was part of the Yankees'
2009 World Series The 2009 World Series was the championship series of Major League Baseball's (MLB) 2009 season. As the 105th edition of the World Series, it was a best-of-seven playoff contested between the Philadelphia Phillies, champions of the National Le ...
championship team that beat the
Philadelphia Phillies The Philadelphia Phillies are an American professional baseball team based in Philadelphia. The Phillies compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East Division. Since 2004, the team's home stadium has ...
. Gardner led the
American League The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the American League (AL), is the younger of two sports leagues, leagues constituting Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western L ...
in
stolen base In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a runner advances to a base unaided by other actions and the official scorer rules that the advance should be credited to the action of the runner. The umpires determine whether the runner is safe or out ...
s in 2011 and in
triples TripleS (; ; stylized as tripleS) is a South Korean 24-member multinational girl group formed by Modhaus. They aim to be the world's first decentralized idol group, where the members will rotate between the full group, sub-units, and solo activi ...
in 2013. He was named an
All-Star An all-star team is a group of people all having a high level of performance in their field. Originating in sports, it has since drifted into vernacular and has been borrowed heavily by the entertainment industry. Sports "All-star" as a sport ...
in 2015 and won a
Gold Glove Award The Rawlings Gold Glove Award, usually referred to as simply the Gold Glove, is the award given annually to the Major League Baseball (MLB) players judged to have exhibited superior individual Fielding (baseball), fielding performances. It is awar ...
in 2016. Gardner also won three
Fielding Bible Award A Fielding Bible Award recognizes the best defensive player for each baseball positions, fielding position in Major League Baseball (MLB) based on "statistical analysis, the eye test, and any other factors that anelistswish to utilize." John D ...
s. Gardner was a major leader in the Yankees' clubhouse during his tenure and developed into a fan favorite due to his tenacity, grit, and blue-collar approach. When top prospect
Anthony Volpe Anthony Michael Volpe (born April 28, 2001) is an American professional baseball shortstop for the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball (MLB). The Yankees selected Volpe in the first round of the 2019 MLB draft. He made his MLB debut in 2023 ...
made the Yankees' roster in 2023, he was offered the number 11 by the team, but he called Gardner for the veteran's blessing before accepting his old number, which Gardner happily obliged.


Amateur career

Gardner attended Holly Hill Academy in
Holly Hill, South Carolina Holly Hill is a town in Orangeburg County, South Carolina, United States. Prior to 1910 it was located in the northwest portion of Saint James Goose Creek Township. The population was 1,277 at the 2010 census. As of 2023, the estimated populati ...
, where he played for the school's baseball team. He also played
American Legion Baseball American Legion Baseball is a variety of amateur baseball played by 13-to-19-year-olds in fifty states in the U.S. and Canada. More than 3,500 teams participate each year. The American Legion Department of South Dakota established the program in 1 ...
for St. George Post 105. Gardner attended
walk-on Walk On may refer to: Music Albums * ''Walk On'' (Boston album) or the title song, 1994 * ''Walk On'' (John Hiatt album) or the title song, 1995 * ''Walk On'' (Randy Johnston album) or the title song, 1992 *''Walk On'', by Kellie Coffey, 200 ...
tryouts for the baseball team at the
College of Charleston The College of Charleston (CofC or Charleston) is a public university in Charleston, South Carolina, United States. Founded in 1770 and chartered in 1785, it is the oldest university in South Carolina, the 13th-oldest institution of higher lea ...
in 2001. Gardner made the team and became a three-year starter for the
College of Charleston Cougars The Charleston Cougars are the varsity intercollegiate athletic teams representing the College of Charleston in Charleston, South Carolina. The Cougars compete in NCAA Division I and are currently members of the Coastal Athletic Association. The ...
. Gardner had a .397
batting average Batting average is a statistic in cricket, baseball, and softball that measures the performance of batters. The development of the baseball statistic was influenced by the cricket statistic. Cricket In cricket, a player's batting average is ...
in 2004, his junior year, but he was not selected in the 2004 MLB draft. In 2005, his senior year, he batted .447, tied for the most
hits Hits or H.I.T.S. may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Music * '' H.I.T.S.'', 1991 album by New Kids on the Block * ''...Hits'' (Phil Collins album), 1998 * ''Hits'' (compilation series), 1984–2006; 2014, a British compilation album s ...
in college baseball with 122, established a Cougars record with 85
runs scored In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted bal ...
, and led the
Southern Conference The Southern Conference (SoCon) is a collegiate List of NCAA conferences, athletic conference affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) NCAA Division I, Division I. Southern Conference College football, football teams c ...
with 38
stolen base In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a runner advances to a base unaided by other actions and the official scorer rules that the advance should be credited to the action of the runner. The umpires determine whether the runner is safe or out ...
s.


Professional career


Minor leagues

After his senior year in college, the
New York Yankees The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of the Bronx. The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Am ...
selected Gardner in the third round, with the 109th overall selection, of the
2005 Major League Baseball draft The 2005 Major League Baseball draft, was held on June 7 and 8. It was conducted via conference call with representatives from each of the league's 30 teams. It is widely considered to be one of the best drafts in recent memory. ''SourceMajor L ...
. Gardner received a $210,000
signing bonus A signing bonus or sign-on bonus is a sum of money paid to a new employee (including a professional sports person) by a company as an incentive to join that company. They are often given as a way of making a compensation package more attractive ...
. Gardner finished the 2005 season in the
New York–Penn League The New York–Penn League (NYPL) was a Minor League Baseball league that operated in the northeastern United States from 1939 to 2020. Classified as a Class A Short Season league, its season started in June, after major-league teams signed th ...
season ranking 268th in
at bat In baseball, an at bat (AB) or time at bat is a batter's turn batting against a pitcher. An at bat is different from a plate appearance. A batter is credited with a plate appearance regardless of what happens upon completion of his turn at bat, ...
s (with 282), 54th in runs (62), and 78th in stolen bases (19). He was a
Florida State League The Florida State League (FSL) is a Minor League Baseball league based in the state of Florida. Having been classified at various levels throughout its existence, it operated at Class A-Advanced from 1990 until its demotion to Single-A following ...
All Star in 2006, batting .323 in 63 games with 22
runs batted in A run batted in or runs batted in (RBI) is a statistic in baseball and softball that credits a batter for making a play that allows a run to be scored (except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play). For example, if th ...
(RBIs) with the
Tampa Yankees Tampa ( ) is a city on the Gulf Coast of the U.S. state of Florida. Tampa's borders include the north shore of Tampa Bay and the east shore of Old Tampa Bay. Tampa is the largest city in the Tampa Bay area and the county seat of Hillsborough C ...
. During this campaign he was third in the Florida State League in batting average and led the league in stolen bases with 30. Gardner was also second in the league in walks with 47. In 2007, he played 54 games for the Double-A
Trenton Thunder The Trenton Thunder are a collegiate summer baseball team of the MLB Draft League. They are located in Trenton, New Jersey, and play their home games at Trenton Thunder Ballpark. From 1994 to 2020, it was a Minor League Baseball team of the D ...
, though he missed time with a broken bone in his hand. In 203 at bats, he stole 18 bases (tied for fifth in the league; while being caught four times), hit five
triples TripleS (; ; stylized as tripleS) is a South Korean 24-member multinational girl group formed by Modhaus. They aim to be the world's first decentralized idol group, where the members will rotate between the full group, sub-units, and solo activi ...
, and batted .300 with a .392
on-base percentage In baseball statistics, on-base percentage (OBP) measures how frequently a batting (baseball), batter reaches base (baseball), base. An official Major League Baseball (MLB) statistic since 1984, it is sometimes referred to as on-base average (OBA ...
(OBP), before being promoted to the Triple-A
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, often abbreviated to SWB RailRiders, are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League (IL) and the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Yankees. They are located in Moosic, Pennsylvania, in the S ...
. There, in 45 games, he batted .260 with a .343 OBP, and stole 21 bases while being caught only three times. In fall 2007, he played in 26 games in the
Arizona Fall League The Arizona Fall League (AFL) is an off-season baseball league owned and operated by Major League Baseball (MLB) which operates during autumn in Arizona, United States, at six different baseball complexes. Arizona Fall League rosters are filled ...
, leading it in runs (27) and stolen bases (16), while being caught stealing only once. He batted .343 (fifth in the league) with a .433 OBP (third) and was third in the league in walks with 17. In 2007, he was the 12th-best prospect in the Yankees minor league system according to ''
Baseball America ''Baseball America'' (BA) is a sports publication company that covers baseball at every level, including Major League Baseball (MLB), with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in Minor League Baseball (MiLB) college, high school, and inte ...
''. Playing for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in 2008, in 94 games Gardner was second in the
International League The International League (IL) is a Minor League Baseball league that operates in the United States. Along with the Pacific Coast League, it is one of two leagues playing at the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A level, which is one grade below Major ...
with a .414 on-base percentage, 70 walks, 11 triples, and was sixth in the IL with 37 stolen bases, while being caught only nine times. Through 2008 in the minor leagues, he had a .291 batting average and a .389 OBP. He had stolen 153 bases, being caught only 31 times (an 83% success rate).


New York Yankees


2008

On June 30, 2008, Gardner was called up and made his major league debut, batting last and going 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 rookie Texas Rangers
relief pitcher In baseball and softball, a relief pitcher or reliever is a pitcher who pitches in the game after the starting pitcher or another relief pitcher has been removed from the game due to fatigue (medical), fatigue, injury, ineffectiveness, ejection ...
Warner Madrigal Warner Antonio Madrigal (born March 21, 1984) is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Texas Rangers, Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Chunichi Dr ...
in the seventh inning. On July 26, 2008, Gardner was optioned back to AAA after the acquisition of
Xavier Nady Xavier Clifford Nady VI (; born November 14, 1978) is an American former professional baseball outfielder and first baseman. Nady played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Mets, Pittsburgh Pirates, New York Yankees, Chicago Cubs, Ari ...
in order to continue to receive playing time. The Yankees again recalled Gardner in 25 days. On September 21, 2008, Gardner scored the final run of Major League Baseball in
Yankee Stadium Yankee Stadium is a baseball stadium located in the Bronx in New York City. It is the home field of Major League Baseball’s New York Yankees and New York City FC of Major League Soccer. The stadium opened in April 2009, replacing the Yankee S ...
history as a
pinch runner In baseball or softball, a pinch runner is a player substituted into a game for the purpose of base running. Description A pinch runner may be faster or otherwise more skilled at base running than the player for whom the pinch runner has been s ...
for
Jason Giambi Jason Gilbert Giambi (; born January 8, 1971) is an American former professional baseball first baseman and designated hitter. In his Major League Baseball (MLB) career, which began in 1995, Giambi played for the Oakland Athletics, New York Yank ...
, scoring on a
sacrifice fly In baseball, a sacrifice fly (sometimes abbreviated to sac fly) is defined by Rule 9.08(d): "Score a sacrifice fly when, before two are out, the batter hits a ball in flight handled by an outfielder or an infielder running in the outfield in fair o ...
by
Robinson Canó Robinson José Canó Mercedes (; born October 22, 1982) is a Dominican-American professional baseball second baseman for the Diablos Rojos del México of the Mexican League; he also captains the Estrellas Orientales of the Dominican Professio ...
in the seventh inning of an eventual 7–3 win for the Yankees over the
Baltimore Orioles The Baltimore Orioles (also known as the O's) are an American professional baseball team based in Baltimore. The Orioles compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East Division. As one of the America ...
. Gardner finished his rookie season playing in 42 games, batting .228 with 16 RBI and 13 stolen bases.


2009: World Series championship

Gardner was named the Yankees' starting center fielder for
Opening Day Opening Day is the day on which professional baseball leagues begin their regular season. For Major League Baseball (MLB) and most of the American minor leagues, this day typically falls during the first week of April, although in recent year ...
of the 2009 season on March 29, beating out
Melky Cabrera Melky Cabrera Astacio (born August 11, 1984), nicknamed "the Melkman", is a Dominican former professional baseball outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Yankees, Atlanta Braves, San Francisco Giants, Toronto Blu ...
for the position, although Cabrera would eventually replace Gardner as the starting center fielder. Gardner played 108 games during the 2009 season, batting .270 with three home runs, 23 RBI, and 26 stolen bases. Gardner was also part of the Yankees' postseason run, appearing in all but one of the Yankees postseason games and starting the final two games of the World Series, as the team won the Series for the first time since 2000 by beating the
Philadelphia Phillies The Philadelphia Phillies are an American professional baseball team based in Philadelphia. The Phillies compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East Division. Since 2004, the team's home stadium has ...
.


2010

Gardner began the 2010 season as the Yankees' starting left fielder, taking over after
Johnny Damon Johnny David Damon (born November 5, 1973) is an American former professional baseball outfielder who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1995 to 2012. During his MLB career, Damon played for the Kansas City Royals (1995–2000), Oakland A ...
left in free agency, he finished the season with a .277 batting average and 47 stolen bases in 150 games, and had the highest number of pitches per plate appearance in the major leagues (4.61). He also won the 2010
Fielding Bible Award A Fielding Bible Award recognizes the best defensive player for each baseball positions, fielding position in Major League Baseball (MLB) based on "statistical analysis, the eye test, and any other factors that anelistswish to utilize." John D ...
as the best defensive left fielder in MLB. On December 7, 2010, Gardner underwent surgery to get rid of inflamed tissue in his wrist, with Yankees general manager
Brian Cashman Brian McGuire Cashman (born July 3, 1967) is an American baseball executive for the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has served as the general manager and senior vice president of the Yankees since 1998. During Cashman's tenure ...
stating that he would be back in time for spring training.


2011

Gardner started the 2011 season hitting leadoff for the Yankees. He struggled in that role and was demoted to the bottom third of the order. However, after Jeter was put on the disabled list for a calf injury, Gardner was returned to the top of the order, alternating with
Nick Swisher Nicholas Thompson Swisher (born November 25, 1980) is an American former professional baseball outfielder and first baseman in Major League Baseball (MLB). He was a switch hitter who threw left-handed, and played for the Oakland Athletics, Chica ...
. After Jeter's return and Alex Rodriguez's stint on the disabled list for knee surgery, Gardner and Jeter periodically shared the top of the order, with Gardner at lead-off and Jeter batting second. Gardner finished the 2011 season tied for first in the
American League The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the American League (AL), is the younger of two sports leagues, leagues constituting Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western L ...
in stolen bases with Coco Crisp, each having 49. Gardner won his second consecutive Fielding Bible Award as the best fielding left fielder in the MLB. Gardner played in 159 games, batting .259 with seven home runs and 36 RBI.


2012

Gardner and the Yankees agreed on a $2.8 million contract for the 2012 season, avoiding arbitration. Gardner experienced an elbow injury in 2012 and was expected to return in August. On July 16, Gardner suffered a setback and his chances of missing the entire season increased. On July 24, Gardner underwent right elbow surgery, performed by Christopher S. Ahmad, to remove a bone spur and inflamed tissue. He was reactivated on September 25 after Steve Pearce and
Justin Thomas Justin Louis Thomas (born April 29, 1993) is an American professional golfer who plays on the PGA Tour and is a former List of World Number One male golfers, world number one. In 2017, Thomas experienced a breakout year, winning five PGA Tour e ...
were designated for assignment. Gardner played in 16 games during 2012, batting .323 with two stolen bases and three RBI.


2013

With
Curtis Granderson Curtis Granderson Jr. (born March 16, 1981), nicknamed "the Grandyman", is an American former professional baseball outfielder. He played 16 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Detroit Tigers, New York Yankees, New York Mets, Los Ange ...
having suffered a fractured right forearm during a
spring training Spring training, also called spring camp, is the preseason of the Summer Professional Baseball Leagues, such as Major League Baseball (MLB), and it is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spri ...
game, Gardner was moved to
center field A center fielder, abbreviated CF, is the outfielder in baseball who plays defense in center field – the baseball and softball fielding position between left field and right field. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the cen ...
for the 2013 season. For the week of June 2–9, Gardner was named the AL Player of the Week. On August 11, 2013, Gardner hit his first career
walk-off home run In baseball, a walk-off home run is a home run that ends the game. For a home run to end the game, it must be hit in the bottom of the final inning and generate enough runs to exceed the opponent's score. Because the opponent will not have an opp ...
with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning off of
Detroit Tigers The Detroit Tigers are an American professional baseball team based in Detroit. The Tigers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. One of the AL's eight chart ...
reliever José Veras. The home run sealed a 5–4 victory for the Yankees, and helped give support to a struggling
Mariano Rivera Mariano Rivera (born November 29, 1969) is a Panamanian Americans, Panamanian-American former professional baseball pitcher who played 19 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Yankees, from 1995 to 2013. Nicknamed "Mo" and " ...
, who blew three consecutive save opportunities for the only time in his career. In the same series against Detroit two days earlier, Gardner made his first bailout of Rivera's pitching mishap by hitting a walk-off single past a diving
Miguel Cabrera José Miguel Cabrera Torres (born April 18, 1983), nicknamed Miggy, is a Venezuelan former professional baseball first baseman, third baseman, and designated hitter who played 21 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Florida Marlins a ...
to give the Yankees a 4–3 win. According to the
Elias Sports Bureau The Elias Sports Bureau is an American privately-held sports data company providing historical and current statistical information for the major professional sports leagues operating in the U.S. and Canada. Founded in 1913, Elias is considere ...
, Gardner became the first Yankee since
Claudell Washington Claudell Washington (August 31, 1954June 10, 2020) was an American baseball outfielder who played seventeen seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played for the Oakland Athletics, Texas Rangers, Chicago White Sox, New York Mets, Atlanta Br ...
in 1988 to have two walk-off hits in a span of three or fewer games. In 2013, Gardner played 145 games batting .273 with eight home runs, 33 doubles, an American League leading 10 triples, 52 RBI, and 24 stolen bases.


2014

On February 23, 2014, the Yankees and Gardner agreed to a four-year, $52 million extension to begin in 2015. On April 23, 2014, Gardner made his first career start at right field. On July 28, 2014, Gardner recorded his first career multi-homer game where he hit two home runs off of Texas Rangers pitcher
Yu Darvish , more commonly known as Yu Darvish (ダルビッシュ 有), is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher for the San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Texas Rangers (baseball), Texas Rangers, Lo ...
. He was named AL Player of the Week on August 4. On September 21, Gardner recorded the 15,000th home run of the Yankees franchise off the Blue Jays' Drew Hutchison. Gardner struggled in September due to an injury, finishing 12-for-72 (.167 batting average), dampening his strong 2014 offensive season. Gardner changed his approach to hitting, relying less on his declining speed and altering his swing to develop more power. For the 2014 season, Gardner played in 148 games, batting .256 with a career-high 17 home runs, 58 RBI, and 21 stolen bases, and had the highest number of pitches per plate appearance in the major leagues (4.44). Gardner was the Yankees' nominee for the
Hank Aaron Award The Hank Aaron Award is given annually to the Major League Baseball (MLB) players selected as the top hitter in each league, as voted on by baseball fans and members of the media. It was introduced in 1999 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Han ...
for the 2014 season. After the 2014 season, Gardner underwent surgery in his right arm to correct a
rectus abdominis muscle The rectus abdominis muscle, () also known as the "abdominal muscle" or simply better known as the "abs", is a pair of segmented skeletal muscle on the ventral aspect of a person's abdomen. The paired muscle is separated at the midline by a ba ...
injury that affected him in July and September.


2015: All-Star season

Gardner was named AL Player of the Week for the week ending June 28, 2015. He was one of the five candidates chosen for the
All-Star Final Vote The All-Star Final Vote was an annual Internet and text message ballot by Major League Baseball (MLB) fans to elect the final player for each team that participates in the Major League Baseball All-Star Game, after all other selections were made ...
for the
2015 MLB All-Star Game The 2015 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 86th edition of the Major League Baseball All-Star Game. The game was played at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, Ohio on Tuesday, July 14. It was televised nationally on Fox. The Americ ...
, but was later removed from the ballot after being chosen to replace the injured
Alex Gordon Alexander Jonathan Gordon (born February 10, 1984) is an American former professional baseball left fielder who played his entire career for the Kansas City Royals of Major League Baseball (MLB) from 2007 to 2020. Prior to playing professional ...
on the All-Star team. Gardner's hot first half would not last the whole season; after batting .302 up to the All-Star break, he struggled for the rest of the year, hitting .206 in the second half of the season. After going 0–4 with three strikeouts in the Yankees' 3–0 loss to the
Houston Astros The Houston Astros are an American professional baseball team based in Houston. The Astros compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League West, West Division. They are one of two major leag ...
in the 2015 AL Wild Card Game, Gardner received a loud roar of boos from fans at
Yankee Stadium Yankee Stadium is a baseball stadium located in the Bronx in New York City. It is the home field of Major League Baseball’s New York Yankees and New York City FC of Major League Soccer. The stadium opened in April 2009, replacing the Yankee S ...
. In 2015, Gardner continued his hitting approach from the prior season, batting .259 with 16 home runs, 66 RBI, and 20 stolen bases.


2016: Gold Glove season

Gardner was moved into the Yankees' leadoff spot midseason after traditionally hitting behind
Jacoby Ellsbury Jacoby McCabe Ellsbury ( ; born September 11, 1983) is an American former professional baseball center fielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Boston Red Sox from 2007 through 2013 and then played for the New York Yankees from 2 ...
during Ellsbury's tenure as a Yankee. On April 23, Gardner hit a walk-off home run against the
Tampa Bay Rays The Tampa Bay Rays are an American professional baseball team based in the Tampa Bay area. The Rays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East Division. They are one of two major ...
. Gardner's on-base percentage in 2016 was .351, his highest in a full season since 2010, and his 70 walks were his most since that same season. However, his .713 OPS was tied with 2011 for his lowest career mark in a full season. For the 2016 season, Gardner hit .261 with seven home runs, 41 RBI, and 16 stolen bases. His home run and RBI count were the lowest in a full season since 2011, while he recorded the lowest stolen base count of his career in a full season. He won the
Gold Glove Award The Rawlings Gold Glove Award, usually referred to as simply the Gold Glove, is the award given annually to the Major League Baseball (MLB) players judged to have exhibited superior individual Fielding (baseball), fielding performances. It is awar ...
for American League left fielders.


2017

On April 12, 2017, Gardner collided with
Rickie Weeks Rickie Darnell Weeks Jr. (born September 13, 1982) is an American former professional baseball second baseman who is the associate manager for the Milwaukee Brewers of Major League Baseball (MLB). Between 2003 and 2017, he played in MLB for the B ...
of the Tampa Bay Rays at first base, and both players left the game. Gardner did not sustain a serious injury and came away only with a bruised jaw and strained neck. The Yankees listed him as day-to-day. On April 29, Gardner hit two home runs in a 12–4 win over the Baltimore Orioles. On May 2, Gardner had another two home run game in an 11–5 win over the
Toronto Blue Jays The Toronto Blue Jays are a Canadian professional baseball team based in Toronto. The Blue Jays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East Division. Since 1989, the team has p ...
. On May 5, with the Yankees down to their final strike, Gardner hit a go-ahead three-run home run off of
Hector Rondon In Greek mythology, Hector (; , ) was a Trojan prince, a hero and the greatest warrior for Troy during the Trojan War. He is a major character in Homer's ''Iliad'', where he leads the Trojans and their allies in the defense of Troy, killing c ...
, which proved to be the game winner as the Yankees won 3–2 over the
Chicago Cubs The Chicago Cubs are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The Cubs compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Central Division. Th ...
. On June 1, Gardner collected the 1,000th hit of his career off Marco Estrada of the Toronto Blue Jays. On June 30, Gardner went 3-for-5 with a grand slam and 6 RBIs, tying his career high, while falling a triple short of the cycle. On July 27, Gardner hit his 18th home run of the season, a walk-off against the
Tampa Bay Rays The Tampa Bay Rays are an American professional baseball team based in the Tampa Bay area. The Rays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East Division. They are one of two major ...
, setting a new career high for single-season home runs. The next day, Gardner started the game with a leadoff home run. Gardner hit a walk-off single on July 29 with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth. Gardner hit 21 home runs, recording 23 steals and a .264 average as the Yankees made the playoffs and finished one game shy of the World Series. Gardner had a productive postseason, batting .286 with 2 RBI in the
American League Division Series In Major League Baseball, the American League Division Series (ALDS) determines which two teams from the American League will advance to the American League Championship Series. The Division Series consists of two best-of-five series, featuring ea ...
versus the
Cleveland Indians The Cleveland Guardians are an American professional baseball team based in Cleveland. The Guardians compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. Since , the team ...
. He was listed as a Gold Glove finalist, but ultimately lost to
Alex Gordon Alexander Jonathan Gordon (born February 10, 1984) is an American former professional baseball left fielder who played his entire career for the Kansas City Royals of Major League Baseball (MLB) from 2007 to 2020. Prior to playing professional ...
of the
Kansas City Royals The Kansas City Royals are an American professional baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. The team ...
.


2018

Gardner entered the 2018 season as a member of a crowded outfield. However, due to injuries to
Jacoby Ellsbury Jacoby McCabe Ellsbury ( ; born September 11, 1983) is an American former professional baseball center fielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Boston Red Sox from 2007 through 2013 and then played for the New York Yankees from 2 ...
, (who missed the entire 2018 season with various ailments),
Clint Frazier Clint Jackson Frazier (born September 6, 1994) is an American former professional baseball outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Yankees, Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox. A top prospect for the 2013 MLB draft, ...
, who suffered a concussion in spring training that sidelined him for most of the season, and
Aaron Judge Aaron James Judge (born April 26, 1992) is an American professional baseball right fielder for the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball (MLB). He is a six-time MLB All-Star and two-time American League (AL) Most Valuable Player Award (MVP ...
(who missed two months with a wrist injury), Gardner saw more playing time than originally expected, appearing in 140 games. He finished the season batting .236 (his worst average since 2008), with 12 home runs and 45 RBI. On October 31, 2018, the Yankees announced they had declined his $12.5 million option for 2019, and instead re-signed him to a one-year, $7.5 million contract for the 2019 season.


2019

On April 17, 2019, Gardner hit his 100th career home run—a grand slam off Ryan Brasier—to give the Yankees a go-ahead 5–3 lead over the Boston Red Sox in what would be the game-deciding hit. He became one of two players in Yankees history (alongside
Derek Jeter Derek Sanderson Jeter ( ; born June 26, 1974), nicknamed "the Captain", is an American former professional baseball shortstop, businessman, and baseball executive. As a player, Jeter spent his entire 20-year Major League Baseball (MLB) caree ...
) to hit at least 100 home runs and steal at least 250 bases. On July 26, the Yankees placed Gardner on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to July 22) for left knee inflammation stemming from an injury he had suffered the previous week, putting him on the injured list for only the third time in his major league career. He was recalled from the injured list on August 2. Gardner hit .251 with a career-high 28 home runs and 74 RBIs in 2019. He finished third in Gold Glove voting After the 2019 season, Gardner became a
free agent In professional sports, a free agent is a player or manager who is eligible to sign with other clubs or franchises; i.e., not under contract to any specific team. The term is also used in reference to a player who is under a contract at present ...
. The Yankees re-signed Gardner to a one-year contract with an option for the 2021 season.


2020

In the shortened 2020 season, Gardner, again in a fourth-outfielder role, played in 49 games, hitting .223 with five home runs and 15 RBI. On October 29, 2020, the Yankees declined their 2021 $10 million option on Gardner, making him a free agent.


2021

On February 23, 2021, Gardner signed a one-year, $4 million contract with the Yankees, which included an option for 2022. Despite once again starting the season as a projected fourth outfielder, due to injuries to
Aaron Hicks Aaron Michael Hicks (born October 2, 1989) is an American professional baseball outfielder who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Minnesota Twins, New York Yankees, Baltimore Orioles, and Los Angeles ...
, Gardner played in 140 games and hit .222 with 10 home runs and 39 RBI. On November 4, the option for 2022 was not exercised, making Gardner a free agent. He was the final member of the 2009 World Series team remaining on the team.


Free agency

Gardner was not signed by any team prior to the start of the 2022 season. In October 2022 a New Jersey paper reported that he had received a $6M offer from the
Toronto Blue Jays The Toronto Blue Jays are a Canadian professional baseball team based in Toronto. The Blue Jays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East Division. Since 1989, the team has p ...
but preferred to have returned to the Yankees.


Player profile

Gardner's main strength was his speed. He was best known for stealing bases and being very disciplined at the plate. In 2010 and 2014, Gardner saw more pitches per at-bat than any other player in the American League.


Personal life

Brett Gardner and his wife, Jessica, have two sons: Hunter and Miller. Miller was born on October 2010, in Charleston, South Carolina, and he died from exposure to carbon monoxide on March 21, 2025, at the age of 14, during a family vacation in Costa Rica. The Yankees honored Miller with a moment of silence before their Opening Day game on March 27, 2025. In the offseason, the Gardners reside in
Holly Hill, South Carolina Holly Hill is a town in Orangeburg County, South Carolina, United States. Prior to 1910 it was located in the northwest portion of Saint James Goose Creek Township. The population was 1,277 at the 2010 census. As of 2023, the estimated populati ...
. His father, Jerry Gardner, who played in the minors for the Phillies, owns a farm in Holly Hill. Brett was raised on the farm by Jerry and his mother, Faye, with his older brother, Glen.


See also

*
List of Major League Baseball players who spent their entire career with one franchise The following is a list of former Major League Baseball (MLB) players who played in at least 10 MLB seasons and spent their entire MLB playing careers exclusively with one franchise. In most cases, this means the player only appeared with one te ...
* List of College of Charleston people *
List of Major League Baseball annual triples leaders In baseball, a Triple (baseball), triple is recorded when the ball is hit so that the Batting (baseball), batter is able to advance all the way to third base, Run (baseball), scoring any Baserunning, runners who were already on base, with no Erro ...
* List of Major League Baseball career games played as a left fielder leaders * List of Major League Baseball career putouts as a left fielder leaders * New York Yankees award winners and league leaders


References


External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gardner, Brett 1983 births Living people People from Holly Hill, South Carolina Major League Baseball outfielders Baseball players from Orangeburg County, South Carolina New York Yankees players Staten Island Yankees players Tampa Yankees players Trenton Thunder players Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees players Charleston RiverDogs players Charleston Cougars baseball players Peoria Saguaros players Peoria Javelinas players American League All-Stars American League stolen base champions Gold Glove Award winners