When did Brett Gardner retire? Yankees support former teammate after 14-year-old son’s death

Miller Gardner, the 14-year-old son of former New York Yankees outfielder, has passed away after falling ill on a vacation on March 21, 2025.

The team confirmed his death after releasing a statement from Brett and his wife, Jessica Gardner, on March 23, 2025.

"With heavy hearts we are saddened to announce the passing of our youngest son, Miller. He was 14 years old and has left us far too soon after falling ill along with several other family members while on vacation. We have so many questions and so few answers at this point, but we do know that he passed away peacefully in his sleep on the morning of Friday, March 21st.”

The statement further continued,

“Miller was a beloved son and brother and we cannot yet comprehend our life without his infectious smile. He loved football, baseball, golf, hunting, fishing, his family and his friends. He lived life to the fullest every single day.”

The Yankees wasted no time in sharing a statement to show their support for the Gardner family during this difficult time. Brett Gardner was drafted by the Yankees in the third round out of the College of Charleston in 2005, as per The New York Times. He retired from Major League Baseball after the 2021 season, concluding a 14-year career exclusively with the New York Yankees.

Here is everything to know.

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Why did New York Yankees player Brett Gardner distance himself from the Yankees post-retirement?

According to a report in CBS News, Brett Gardner was a 2015 American League All-Star. He played 14 seasons with the Yankees and was a beloved member of the 2009 championship team. He earned a Gold Glove in 2016.

According to US Weekly, after retiring from his team in 2021, he has reportedly stayed out of the limelight and out of the Yankees organization. While he has not explicitly stated he "ghosted" the team, reports suggest that Gardner has remained distant from baseball activities and has not maintained regular contact with the Yankees.

The report stated that he did not respond to the New York Yankees' invitation to their annual Old Timers' Day celebration in 2024, a spokesperson for the team said. Another source said:

“He’s off the grid. Like, completely off the grid. Zero dark thirty.”

Gardner’s longtime agent, Joe Bick, told Daily News that he has distanced himself from the game to spend time with his family.

“When Gardy quit playing, basically what he said was that he wanted to be involved in all of his kids’ sports activities, and he and his wife wanted to do some traveling and all that sort of thing, which is what they’ve done. He’s just kind of been completely separated from baseball.”

Before he stepped into his retiring zone, he filed a restraining order against an obsessed fan, Gina Devasahayam who claimed to be his “future wife.” In February 2020, Gardner sought legal protection after Devasahayam repeatedly harassed him and his family, reported The Sun. She claimed that the baseball player allegedly sent her "s*xual signals" from the field.

The outlet reported that although she has never met Gardner, she claimed in her lawsuit that the outfielder has shown interest in her.

Just like his dad, Miller had a strong love for sports. Besides baseball, he played football and golf. He played wide receiver and defensive back for Pinewood Prep, a high school in Summerville, South Carolina, and wore number 11 like his father, according to a New York Times article.

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He is survived by his parents, Brett and Jessica Gardner, and his brother, Hunter.