Jon Berti arrived in Miami in 2019 as a baseball journeyman, a 29-year-old minor league veteran who had spent seven seasons working through Toronto's system for a brief appearance in the majors. When the Marlins signed him to a minor league contract, they envisioned a "super-utility" player; what they gained was someone who would eventually carve his name into the franchise record books. Over five seasons in South Florida, he became the ultimate versatile player, offering defensive flexibility and blazing speed that became hallmarks of the Marlins' gritty identity during a rebuilding period.
While he didn’t possess the traditional power of a corner infielder or the high-volume hitting of a primary starter, he made up for it with a unique kind of chaos on the bases. He was a regular for Don Mattingly, moving effortlessly among the outfield, second base, and third base, keeping the roster flexible. By 2022, he reached an unexpectedly high level of efficiency, leading the entire National League with 41 stolen bases in a season. This was a historic anomaly. Berti arguably became the most unlikely stolen base leader in the history of the game, achieving this despite playing in only 102 games.
Berti's 2022 campaign was defined by not just the number of steals but their boldness. He famously swiped second, third, and home in one inning, thrilling Miami fans. In 2023, he had his best offensive year with 114 hits and a .294 average, helping the Marlins reach the postseason.
Berti was traded to the New York Yankees before the 2024 season.
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