Yankees hold moment of silence for Brett Gardner's son, Miller, on Opening Day

Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News on Mar 27, 2025

Published in Baseball

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NEW YORK — The Opening Day festivities in the Bronx took on a somber tone Thursday as the Yankees honored the late son of former outfielder Brett Gardner.

Yankee Stadium held a moment of silence for Miller Gardner, 14, who died last week at a hotel in Costa Rica while on vacation with his family.

“He had a spark in his eyes, an outgoing and feisty personality, and a warm and loving nature,” public address announcer Paul Olden said before Thursday’s game against the Milwaukee Brewers.

“Miller grew up in the Yankees organization and had become a two-sport athlete, wearing his father’s No. 11 on his football jersey. The entire Yankees organization grieves this unimaginable loss.”

Miller died in his sleep last Friday after he, along with other family members, fell ill during the vacation, according to a statement shared by Brett Gardner and his wife, Jessica. Miller was the youngest of the Gardners’ two sons.

“We have so many questions and so few answers at this point,” the family said.

Costa Rican police continue to investigate Miller’s cause of death. Following an autopsy, officials ruled out asphyxiation, which they had initially cited as a possibility.

The investigation could take up to three months, authorities said.

“It’s been devastating,” Aaron Boone, who managed Brett Gardner for four seasons, said before Thursday’s game.

“There’s no question we’ll be playing with heavy hearts today and throughout the year, and playing with Miller in mind.”

The Yankees drafted Brett Gardner, 41, in 2005, and he played all 14 of his MLB seasons with the organization.

Gardner won a World Series with the Yankees in 2009 and last played in 2021.

“I’ve talked to our guys a lot about perspective, and while this matters so much to us — it’s our livelihood, we pour so much into this [and] so many people care about it — it’s baseball,” Boone said. “I really think it’s important that we reflect on that every now.”