Jose Berrios just joined one of baseball's most exclusive clubs, officially reaching 10 years of MLB service time this July.
Fewer than 10 percent of all players in history have combined the talent, health, resilience and good fortune needed to reach that milestone.
Berrios was drafted in the first round back in 2012 by the Minnesota Twins, making his major league debut in 2016 before eventually moving to Toronto in 2021.
Over that decade-long career, the Puerto Rican right-hander has made 273 starts and racked up 1,481 strikeouts.
He's built a genuinely accomplished résumé along the way, earning a Gold Glove and two All-Star selections during his time in the majors.
Reaching 10 years of service time carries real significance beyond just the honor itself, unlocking full free agency rights and a level of security that very few players ever get to experience in this sport.
It's the kind of milestone that reflects not just talent but durability, staying healthy and effective across a decade when so many careers get cut short by injury or ineffectiveness long before reaching this point.
Why this milestone matters beyond the numbers
Berrios has been a steady presence in Toronto's rotation since arriving in 2021, part of a run that's included some of the best stretches in recent franchise history.
Getting to this point took more than raw ability. Perseverance and good fortune both play a real role in a pitcher lasting a full decade at the highest level of the sport.
It's a bit like reaching a rare professional milestone that most people in any field never get close to, one that requires both consistent excellence and simply staying in the game long enough to get there.
Does reaching 10 years of service time change how Berrios is viewed as he continues his career, or is it simply a quiet, well-earned recognition of everything that's already led to this point?
Congratulations are in order for Berrios, joining an exclusive fraternity that very few players in the sport's history have ever reached.
Does Jose Berríos deserve to be remembered among the better pitchers of his generation?
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