Brett Michael Gardner (born August 24, 1983) is an American professional baseball outfielder in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Yankees. He made his MLB debut with the Yankees in 2008. He was named an All-Star in 2015 and won a Gold Glove Award in 2016. Gardner is currently the longest-tenured New York Yankee.

In 2003, Gardner attended walk-on tryouts for the baseball team at the College of Charleston. After the tryouts, Coach John Pawlowski told the players that he would contact them if they made the team. Without hearing a word from the coach, Gardner came to the field the next day for the first official practice, wearing his high school uniform. When Pawlowski asked Gardner why he was there, Gardner told him that he knew he was capable of playing at the Division I level. Pawlowski told Gardner that he could practice with the team, but if at any time if Pawlowski saw that Gardner wasn't capable then he would be let go.

Gardner was a three-year starter for the College of Charleston Cougars. 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 most in the country. In 2005, he set a new College of Charleston record of 85 runs for the season, and also had 38 stolen bases. He was named third-team All-American and All-Southern Conference. He had a .382 batting average, .456 on-base percentage, and .508 slugging percentage with the Cougars, mostly from the lead-off spot.

After his junior year in college, the New York Yankees selected Gardner in the third round of the 2005 Major League Baseball draft. Gardner received a $210,000 signing bonus.

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