Brett Gardner, Left Field


Date of Birth: 8/24/1983
Birthplace: Holly Hill, South Carolina
College: College of Charleston

Brett Gardner, left fielder, is following in the footsteps of his father, who played in the minor leagues. Gardner was drafted by the New York Yankees in 2005 and he played in their minor league system until 2008. In his time in the minor leagues, Gardner batted .291 and he stole 153 bases. Known for his excellent base stealing abilities, he had an 83% success rate in stealing while in the minors.

Gardner made his first appearance with the Yankees in 2008 when he played in 42 games with them. The following season, he batted .270 with 67 hits and 26 stolen bases in 108 games. In 2010, he played in 150 games and batted .277 with 132 hits, 20 doubles, and 47 stolen bases. He led the American League in stolen bases in 2011 with 49.

In 2012, Gardner played in just 16 games due to an elbow injury and season ending surgery. He had a strong season in 2013, leading the AL in triples with 10. He batted .273 with career highs in hits (147), doubles (33), and triples (10). In February, 2014, he signed a four-year, $52 million contract extension that includes a fifth year club option. He finished the 2014 season with 142 hits, 25 doubles, a career high 17 home runs, 58 RBIs, 21 stolen bases, and a .256 batting average in 148 games.

Gardner finished the 2015 season with 148 hits, 26 doubles, 16 home runs, 20 stolen bases, a career high 66 RBIs, and a .259 batting average in 151 games. Defensively, he played 119 games in left field and 40 games in center field. He had three strikeouts and no hits in four at-bats in the postseason Wild Card game.

In 2016, Gardner batted 261 in 148 games. He had 143 hits, 22 doubles, 16 stolen bases, and 41 RBIs. Defensively, he was rewarded with his first Gold Glove. In 147 games in left field, he made 249 putouts and 3 errors.

Gardner had a good season in 2017, batting .264 in 151 games. He had a career high 157 hits, 26 doubles, a career high 21 home runs, 23 stolen bases, 63 RBIs, and 122 strikeouts to 72 walks. Defensively, as the Yankees' left fielder in 122 games, he made 205 putouts and no errors. In the postseason, he had 12 hits, including a home run, in 52 at-bats in 13 games.

Gardner struggled in 2018, finishing with 125 hits, 20 doubles, 16 stolen bases, 45 RBIs, and a .236 batting average in 140 games. Defensively, as the Yankees' left fielder in 107 games, he made 199 putouts and 3 errors. In the postseason, he had no hits in 8 at-bats in 5 games.

Gardner finished the 2019 season with 123 hits, 26 doubles, 28 home runs, 74 RBIs, 108 strikeouts to 52 walks, and a .251 batting average in 141 games. Defensively, he played 45 games in left field and 98 games in center field. In the postseason, he had 6 hits, including a home run, 4 RBIs, 15 strikeouts to 3 walks, and a .176 batting average in 34 at-bats in 9 games.

Gardner became a free agent on October 31, 2019. He re-signed with the Yankees on January 11, 2020. He played in 49 games in 2020, and he finished the season with 29 hits, 5 doubles, 5 home runs, 15 RBIs, 35 strikeouts to 26 walks, and a .223 batting average. Defensively, he played 39 games in left field and 10 games in center field. In the postseason, he had 7 hits, 1 double, 1 home run, 3 RBIs, and a .368 batting average in 19 at-bats in 6 games.

Gardner elected free agency on October 30, 2020. He re-signed with the Yankees on February 22, 2021. He finished the 2021 season with 86 hits, 16 doubles, 39 RBIs, 100 strikeouts to 60 walks, and a .222 batting average in 140 games. Defensively, as a center fielder in 105 games, he made 205 putouts and no errors. He also played 35 games in left field. In the postseason, he had no hits in three at-bats in one game.

Gardner became a free agent on November 4, 2021.

Career batting statistics for Gardner through 2021 include:

  • 1,688 games played
  • 1,470 hits
  • 251 doubles
  • 73 triples
  • 139 home runs
  • 274 stolen bases
  • 578 RBIs
  • 1,245 strikeouts to 699 walks
  • .256 batting average

Career fielding statistics for Gardner as a left fielder through 2021 include:

  • 1,044 games played
  • 1,747 putouts
  • 16 errors
  • .991 fielding percentage

Personal Life

Gardner and his wife Jessica have two sons.

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Brett Gardner
ESPN - Brett Gardner