DETROIT — When Chicago Cubs utility man Jon Berti entered Friday’s game as a pinch-runner in the eighth inning, it marked the first time he had stepped on the field at Comerica Park in a game since he was playing for Troy High School nearly two decades ago.
At first glance, that sounds hard to believe.
Berti is 35 years old and has played parts of eight seasons and nearly 500 games in the big leagues. Surely, in the interleague era of Major League Baseball, his journey had to have taken him to his hometown at least once?
Not so.
“I played here in high school probably about five times, but professionally, this is the first time,” Berti said from the visiting clubhouse before Sunday’s finale between the Cubs and Tigers. “I missed one trip due to injury, and then the scheduling was just weird those few years with Miami — with COVID and all the changes — so it just never worked out. I’m glad it finally did.”
Berti grew up in a family of Tigers fans — his dad even played a couple of years of minor-league ball in the Tigers’ system — and has memories of going to games at the old Tiger Stadium and Comerica Park.
“My dad would take us to five or six games a year. We did our best to get out here as much as we could,” Berti said. “That helped me fall in love with the game.”
He was a standout in hockey and baseball at Troy High School and then had three impressive seasons at Bowling Green State University, just down the road.
His professional career has been a study in persistence. Berti was drafted in the 18th round by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2011 but didn’t make his big-league debut until 2018, at age 28.
He signed with the Miami Marlins after that season, and that’s where he spent most of his career, quietly plying his trade as a speedy, reliable, and versatile utility man.
Berti led the major leagues in stolen bases with 41 in 2022 and has played every position on the field except catcher. He was traded to the New York Yankees last year and, despite missing much of the season due to injury, returned in time to contribute during their playoff run. He made his first career start at first base in Game 2 of the American League Division Series in October.
He signed a one-year deal with the Cubs before this season.
“Playing for the Cubs has been awesome,” he said. “The support we get at Wrigley is tremendous, and it’s such a great atmosphere to play in. On the road, we’ve had a lot of support too. Then to come here and play a really good Tigers team, with sellout crowds, it’s just been a fun atmosphere. I remember going to a few playoff games here at Comerica as a kid, so I know they can sell this place out and make it really rowdy. It’s been fun to see.”
Although Berti has memories of Tiger Stadium, his most vivid childhood memories revolve around the 2006 World Series team — when he was a teenager.
“When Magglio Ordoñez hit the big home run, and Kenny Rogers pitched that great game against the Yankees. Stuff like that sticks with you,” he said.
Berti came up playing through the Troy Baseball Boosters rec league and then travel baseball. He remembers high school battles against DJ LeMahieu and takes pride in being part of a fraternity of Detroit-area big-leaguers, along with Hunter Brown, Eric Haase, John Schreiber, and others.
“I’ve always taken pride in being from Detroit and also in going to college in a northern climate at Bowling Green,” he said. “It’s fun to come here and tell some of the guys good places to go to dinner and things like that.”
Berti had family and friends in attendance this weekend, although after so much time as a professional, the thrill of stepping on the field at Comerica isn’t quite like it was when he was a teenager.
“It was an awesome experience to play on a big-league field. You’re so used to high school fields where the ball bounces all over the place, so you didn’t realize how nice it was to field a ground ball with no bad hops,” he said with a laugh.
Nearly two decades later, he’s happy to be back.
“I’ve had a lot of people come out and support me,” he said. “We still live here, my wife and I, in the offseason, so I got to sleep in my own bed, which was great. It’s been a great experience.”