How fatherhood has put things into perspective for Miami Marlins’ Jon Berti

The moment put everything in perspective for Jon Berti.

The Miami Marlins’ superutility player had just finished playing his seven innings on Friday night and was walking toward the clubhouse at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. His wife Jill and 6-week-old daughter Gia were waiting for him.

Berti picked up his daughter, who was wearing a onesie that read “Daddy’s MVP,” and a smile emerged on his face.

“She doesn’t care how I do,” Berti said. “It just takes the pressure off.”

On this particular night, a little less than two weeks before the Marlins begin the regular season on March 28 against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Berti put together arguably his best game of spring training. He hit a three-run home run as part of a 2-for-4 night while playing a strong third base.

It was the type of performance Berti was hoping to have sooner than later.

“That felt more like the rhythm and timing I’m looking for,” Berti said, “Good to start now and build on that the next 10 days or so before we break camp.”

At the start of spring training, it looked as if Berti would move from being Miami’s primary utility player to having a chance to be the team’s everyday shortstop.

That changed when the Marlins signed Tim Anderson to a one-year deal, moving Berti back to the plug-and-play role he has flourished in so far in his MLB career.

Berti will likely be playing a lot of third base this season, starting there when Jake Burger is either at first base or designated hitter. He will also spell Luis Arraez at second base and Anderson at shortstop while also potentially getting spot starts in left field.

“Honestly, I don’t put a whole lot of stock into any of that,” Berti said. “It’s more of I’m trying to prepare for a season. In the offseason, I’m trying to prepare for spring training and to prepare for the next year. I always know everything’s so fluid. Everything changes all the time, and I’ve been in this game long enough to know just because one thing is one day doesn’t mean it’s the next day. So I’m just working hard to stay ready for whatever [manager] Skip [Schumaker] needs.”