Miami Marlins History: Best Single-Season Hitters

Jon Berti 2019: 102 OPS+

Jon Berti signed with the Miami Marlins through free agency on December 3, 2018. Already 29-years-old at the start of the 2019 campaign, Berti joined the team as a veteran of four major league games with the Toronto Blue Jays. In 2018, he went four-for-15 with a double, a triple, two RBI, and a stolen base for the only remaining team in Canada.

Expectations were low for Berti, who was extended a non-roster invitation to Miami’s spring training. A seven-for-28 performance and three stolen bases in three tries were enough for the Miami Marlins to keep Berti, at least with their Triple-A level New Orleans Baby Cakes in the Pacific Coast League. In 13 contests for the Cakes, Berti was 10-for-35 with 13 walks, a .490 OBP that kept the Troy, MI native close to a recall to the majors.

On April 20, Berti joined the Miami Marlins and hit .237 in a month of work, with a pair of homers and one stolen base. A strained left oblique put the kibosh on Berti’s coming out party, and laid him up for a month, followed by a month of rehab with the Baby Cakes.

Berti returned to the Miami Marlins proper on August 31, and remained with the parent club through the rest of the campaign. His first nine games back would see him hit .395, going 15-for-38 with six multi-hit games. In 73 games total, Berti hit .273/.348/.406 with six home runs and 24 RBI. He stole 17-of-20 bases, ranking sixth in the National League with an 85 percent success rate.

Adding to Berti’s productivity was his ability to fit in anywhere he was needed on the diamond. He provided more-or-less average defense at all five positions he appeared at, shortstop, third base, and all three outfield positions. He didn’t even make an appearance at his natural position of second base.