Brett Gardner

Brett Gardner
New York Yankees – No. 11
Outfielder
Bats: Left Throws: Left
debut
June 30, 2008, for the New York Yankees
Career statistics (through 2008 season)
Batting average	.228
Home runs	0
Runs batted in	16
Stolen bases	13
Teams
New York Yankees (2008-present)

Brett M. Gardner (born August 24, 1983, in Holly Hill, South Carolina) is an American Major League Baseball center fielder for the New York Yankees. Gardner, who is 5' 10", bats and throws left-handed.

College

Gardner was a walk-on and three-year starter at the College of Charleston (CofC). In 2004, he was chosen to the All-Southern Conference Team. His .447 batting average was third in the nation in 2005, and his 122 hits tied for the most hits in the country. His 85 runs in 2005 is the all-time record at CofC, and his 38 stolen bases led the Southern Conference. He wrapped up his Cougar career as a Third-Team All-American and a second time All-Southern Conference player, sporting a .382/.456/.508 career line, mostly from the lead-off spot.

Draft

After his junior year in college he was drafted by the Yankees in the 3rd round in 2005, and received a $210,000 bonus.

Minor leagues

Gardner adjusted well to wood bats in 2005, and finished the season in the New York-Penn League season ranking 5th in at bats (with 282), 2nd in runs (62), and 5th in stolen bases (19).

He was a Florida State League all star in 2006, batting .323 in 63 games with 22 RBIs with the Tampa Yankees. He was 3rd in the Florida State League in batting average, and led the league in stolen bases with 30. Gardner also was second in the league in walks with 47.

In 2007, he played 54 games for the Double-A Trenton Thunder, though he missed time with a broken bone in his hand. In 203 at bats, he stole 18 bases (tied for 5th in the league; while being caught 4 times), hit 5 triples, and batted .300 with a .392 OBP, before being promoted to Scranton/Wilkes Barre. There, in 45 games he batted .260 with a .343 OBP, and stole 21 bases while being caught only 3 times.

In the fall of 2007, he played in 26 games in the Arizona Fall League, leading it in runs (27) and stolen bases (16), while being caught stealing only once. He batted .343 (5th in the league) with a .433 obp (3rd), and was 3rd in the league in walks (17).

In 2007, he was the 10th-best prospect in the Yankees minor league system according to Baseball America.

Gardner headed into 2008, according to Baseball America, as the Yankee's fastest minor league runner and the one with the best plate discipline.[1] Playing for the Triple-A Scranton Wilkes Barre Yankees in 2008, in 94 games Gardner was 2nd in the International League with a .414 on base percentage, 70 walks, and 11 triples, and 6th in the IL with 37 stolen bases, while being caught only 9 times.

Through 2008 in the minor leagues, he had a .291 batting average and a .389 obp. He had stolen 153 bases, and been caught 31 times.

Major leagues

New York Yankees (2008-present)

Brett Gardner makes a sliding catch against the Chicago Cubs on April 3rd, 2009.

On June 30, 2008, Gardner was called up and made his major league debut, batting lead-off and going 0 for 3 with a stolen base. On July 2, he got both his first hit and first RBI off fellow rookie, Texas Rangers relief pitcher Warner Madrigal, in the seventh inning. Gardner went on to steal second and eventually score in that inning. On July 6, 2008, Gardner started in left field in place of the injured Johnny Damon. He went 2 for 5, including a two-out, game-winning single up the middle off of Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon.

On July 26, 2008, Gardner was optioned back to AAA after the acquisition of Xavier Nady, in order to continue to receive playing time. On August 15th Gardner was called back up to the big leagues.

On August 16, 2008, Gardner in his second game after being called up went 3-5 with a double and two singles, including a game-winning single with which he knocked in Robinson Cano in the bottom of the 13th against the Kansas City Royals. It was Gardner's second walk-off hit as a Yankee. His first was on July 6, 2008 against the Boston Red Sox, again scoring Cano, in the bottom of the 10th.

On September 21, 2008, Gardner scored the final run of Major League Baseball in Yankee Stadium history as a pinch runner for Jason Giambi, scoring on a sacrifice fly by Cano in the seventh inning of an eventual 7-3 win for the Yankees over the Baltimore Orioles.

On February 25, 2009, he hit the first home run of spring training. He was leading off, and hit it his first at bat.

He was named the Yankees' starting center fielder for the 2009 season on March 29, 2009; he beat out Melky Cabrera for the position. Thanks to his work with Kevin Long, the Yankees hitting coach, he finished Spring Training with an impressive .390 batting average.

Tools

Gardner's legs are his strength. He's the fastest baserunner in the organization, has 80 speed on a 20-80 scale, and has solid baserunning instincts. He's adept at picking spots, knowing when it's more valuable to the team for him to use the threat of a stolen base to get the pitcher to throw fastballs to the heart of the order.

He has outstanding plate discipline, draws a good number of walks, and uses the whole field while making consistent, hard contact. Baseball America rated him as having the best strike zone discipline in the Yankees minor league system after the close of the 2006 season.

His speed and excellent sense in the outfield translate to an outstanding defensive game, among the best in the Yankee farm system. His arm is average, though fairly accurate.

On March 14, 2008, Yankee Manager Joe Girardi said of Gardner: “He’s an exciting player. He creates havoc.”

On March 29th, 2009; Yankee Manager Joe Girardi named Gardner the teams starting Center Fielder for the 2009 season, beating out Melky Cabrera.

Personal life

Brett and his wife Jessica had their first son, Hunter, on November 21st, 2008. Brett has one older brother, Glen, and his father played in the minors for the Phillies.

External links

• Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs
• Prospect Profile
• Profile 12/29/06
• "Gardner makes fast impression in camp; Prospect pleases teammates, rattles pitchers with speed," 3/1/07
• "Gardner Promoted To AAA Scranton-Wilkes/Barre," 7/12/07
• "Gardner one step away from a dream," 7/21/07

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