Jon Berti Bio
Jonathon David Berti, born January 22, 1990, is an American professional baseball utility player who is currently a free agent. He has spent time in Major League Baseball (MLB) with the Toronto Blue Jays, Miami Marlins, New York Yankees, and Chicago Cubs, and is best known for his speed on the basepaths. Berti led all of MLB in stolen bases during the 2022 season, the only player to reach the 40-steal mark that year.
Across his career, Berti has built a reputation as a versatile defender capable of playing second base, shortstop, third base, and all three outfield spots. His combination of contact ability, plate discipline, and elite sprint speed has made him a valuable role player for several contending clubs.
Early Life and Background
Jonathon David Berti was born on January 22, 1990, and grew up in the Troy, Michigan area. He attended Troy High School, where he played for the school’s baseball team and developed into a draft-worthy prospect. His baseball roots run in the family. His father, Thomas, played in minor league baseball within the Detroit Tigers organization, giving Jon an early understanding of what a professional baseball career required.
Berti is of Italian descent, with grandparents who emigrated from Sicily. Following high school, he was selected by the Oakland Athletics in the 36th round of the 2008 Major League Baseball draft, but he opted not to sign, choosing instead to continue his development at the college level. That decision ultimately shaped the trajectory of his professional career.
Path to Major League Baseball
After passing on the Athletics in 2008, Berti enrolled at Bowling Green State University, where he played college baseball for the Bowling Green Falcons. He quickly became one of the most productive hitters in program history, setting Falcons single-season records with a .423 batting average and 93 hits, while tying the single-season mark with six triples. His 17 career triples also stood as a school record at the time.
In the summer of 2010, Berti played collegiate summer baseball with the Brewster Whitecaps of the Cape Cod Baseball League, a respected developmental league. The following spring, the Toronto Blue Jays selected him in the 18th round, with the 559th overall pick, of the 2011 MLB draft. He signed with Toronto and began climbing through the organization’s minor league affiliates, including the Vancouver Canadians, Lansing Lugnuts, and Dunedin Blue Jays. Berti stole 56 bases in 2013 with Dunedin, the most in the Florida State League that season, before gaining further experience overseas with the Canberra Cavalry of the Australian Baseball League.
Jon Berti Career
Early Career (2011–2017)
Berti spent his first several professional seasons working his way up the Toronto Blue Jays’ minor league ladder. In 2011, with the Low-A Vancouver Canadians of the Northwest League, he stole 23 bases and batted .291. He split 2012 between the Lansing Lugnuts of the Single-A Midwest League and the Dunedin Blue Jays of the High-A Florida State League, combining for 34 stolen bases in 110 games. His 56 stolen bases with Dunedin in 2013 were the most in the Florida State League, and he later added 31 steals in 46 games with the Canberra Cavalry in the Australian Baseball League, setting a league record.
By 2014, Berti had reached Double-A New Hampshire, where he stole 38 bases, was named an Eastern League All-Star, and logged a career-high 136 games. He continued to bounce between New Hampshire and Triple-A Buffalo over the next three seasons, posting consistent stolen-base totals and steady on-base skills. Following the 2017 season, Berti elected free agency on November 6, 2017, and re-signed with Toronto on a minor league deal in January 2018. He was traded to the Cleveland Indians organization in April 2018 before being sent back to Toronto in June, setting the stage for his first major league opportunity.
Toronto Blue Jays Debut (2018)
After a brief detour through the Cleveland Indians system and a return to the Blue Jays, Berti finally reached the majors. On September 26, 2018, Toronto promoted him to the major league roster and inserted him into the starting lineup at second base. The appearance marked his MLB debut after seven seasons in the minors. He was designated for assignment in early October and outrighted to Triple-A Buffalo a few days later, then elected free agency in November.
Miami Marlins Breakthrough (2019–2023)
Berti signed a minor league deal with the Miami Marlins in December 2018 and was invited to spring training. He opened 2019 with the Triple-A New Orleans Baby Cakes before being promoted to the majors on April 20, 2019. In his rookie campaign, he batted .273 with six home runs and led the Marlins with 17 stolen bases in 73 games, while showcasing his defensive versatility across third base, center field, and shortstop. He became the first player in Marlins history to appear in 20-plus games at each of those three positions in the same season.
In August 2020, Berti stole second, third, and home in the sixth inning of a game against the New York Mets, becoming the first Miami player to steal three bases in a single inning. He finished that shortened season with a .258/.388/.350 slash line. After a .210/.311/.313 mark in 2021, he signed a $1.2 million contract in March 2022 to avoid salary arbitration, and delivered the defining season of his career. Berti led all of MLB with 41 stolen bases in 2022 while being caught just five times, batting .240/.324/.338 with four home runs and 28 RBI in 358 at-bats. He reached the 40-steal plateau in only 102 games, doing so faster than any player in MLB history to ever lead the majors in a full season. He also recorded the fastest sprint speed of any major league second baseman that year at 29.6 feet per second. He re-signed with Miami before 2023, batting .258 with seven home runs, 33 RBI, and 16 stolen bases, after which the Marlins exercised a $3.625 million option for 2024.
New York Yankees Era (2024)
On March 27, 2024, the Marlins traded Berti to the New York Yankees in a three-team deal also involving the Tampa Bay Rays. After hitting .273 in 17 games, he suffered a strained left calf in late May and was placed on the injured list. He was transferred to the 60-day injured list on June 12 and did not return until September 9. In 25 total games with New York, he slashed .273/.342/.318 with one home run, six RBI, and five stolen bases. In the second game of the 2024 American League Division Series against the Kansas City Royals, Berti started at first base for the first time in his career, a rare first-time postseason start at a new position. The Yankees non-tendered him on November 22, 2024, making him a free agent.
Chicago Cubs Era (2025)
On January 28, 2025, Berti signed a one-year, $2 million contract with the Chicago Cubs. In 51 appearances for Chicago, he batted .210/.262/.230 with two RBI and 11 stolen bases. He drew national attention on July 4 when he pitched the ninth inning of a game against the St. Louis Cardinals, allowing two runs on three walks and two hits in an 11–3 Cubs win. The Cubs designated him for assignment on August 12 and released him after he cleared waivers the following day.
Driving Style and Strengths
Berti’s game is built on speed, contact, and defensive flexibility. He is most dangerous on the basepaths, using elite sprint speed to turn walks and singles into extra bases, and he has consistently ranked among the fastest players in the league at his positions. As a defender, his willingness to play second base, shortstop, third base, and all three outfield spots has made him a useful utility piece for managers seeking late-inning flexibility or injury replacements.
Notable Events and Milestones
The defining moment of Berti’s career came in 2022, when he became the only player in MLB to reach 40 stolen bases and led the majors in steals for the season. Earlier, in 2020, he became the first Miami Marlins player to steal three bases in a single inning, swiping second, third, and home against the New York Mets. His brief pitching appearance for the Cubs on July 4, 2025, added a memorable footnote to his journeyman resume.
Jon Berti Career Wins
As a position player and utility contributor, Jon Berti’s career has been measured less in championships and more in stolen-base milestones and defensive versatility. His most celebrated statistical achievement remains the 2022 MLB stolen base crown, when he set a record for the fewest games needed by a season-long base-stealing leader.
MLB Highlights
Berti’s biggest MLB highlight is the 2022 season, when he led the league with 41 stolen bases. He added 17 steals as a Marlins rookie in 2019 and posted 16 more in 2023. With the Yankees in 2024, he chipped in five stolen bases, and with the Cubs in 2025, he added 11. Defensively, he earned recognition as a Marlins All-Star utilityman and made a rare postseason start at first base in the 2024 ALDS.
Other Wins and Performances
Across the minor leagues, Berti was a prolific base stealer, including 56 steals in the Florida State League in 2013, a 2014 Eastern League All-Star selection with the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, and an Australian Baseball League record 31 steals in 46 games with the Canberra Cavalry. At Bowling Green State University, he set Falcons single-season records for batting average and hits, and tied the record for triples in a season.
Jon Berti Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Jon Berti comes from a baseball family. His father, Thomas, played in minor league baseball within the Detroit Tigers organization, which gave Jon a clear window into the demands of a professional career from a young age. The family is of Italian descent, with Jon’s grandparents emigrating from Sicily.
Personal Life
Berti is known primarily for his professional baseball career and his Italian-American family roots. He has kept most details of his personal and home life out of the public eye, focusing public attention on his play in the majors.
2025 Season Performance
Berti’s 2025 season began when he signed a one-year, $2 million contract with the Chicago Cubs on January 28, 2025. He was used primarily as a utility player and pinch-runner, appearing in 51 games and providing 11 stolen bases, the kind of speed and baserunning value that had long defined his game. He also made an unexpected appearance on the mound, pitching the ninth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals on July 4 in an 11–3 Cubs victory.
Offensively, his production was limited, as he batted .210/.262/.230 with two RBI in a part-time role, and he struggled to lock down a consistent spot in the lineup. The Cubs designated him for assignment on August 12, 2025, and released him after he cleared waivers the following day, returning him to the open market.
Looking beyond 2025, Berti remains a free agent and a candidate for clubs seeking a veteran utility player with proven base-stealing ability and the flexibility to play multiple positions. His track record as MLB’s 2022 stolen base leader and his reputation for speed and contact could keep him in demand for bench roles on contending teams.