Derek Jeter: ‘I’ve Done It for Long Enough’
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Robert Rogers/MLB Photos via Getty Images(TAMPA, Fla.) — New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter is content about riding off into the sunset following the 2014 season. The five-time World Series champion announced last week that he would be retiring at season’s end or after the playoffs.
“I just think I’ve done it for long enough,” Jeter said Wednesday at his spring training press conference at Steinbrenner Field. “I look forward to doing some other things in my life, I can’t reiterate enough that we still have a season to play.”
Jeter, a 13-time All-Star, has been the Yankees starting shortstop since 1996. He was drafted by the organization in 1992 and named Captain by George Steinbrenner during the 2003 season.
“I know I haven’t been as open with some of you guys as you would have liked me to be over the last 20 years,” said Jeter, who has showed little emotion throughout his career. “That’s by design, it doesn’t mean I don’t have those feelings.”
Jeter was hampered all of 2013 with an ankle injury after breaking it during the ALCS back in 2012, but he insisted that his ankle is completely fine and he is healthy.
“I want to try and enjoy each and every day throughout the course of the year,” Jeter said. “It’s been very difficult for me to do that over the course of my career because I’ve always tried focused about what you can do next.”
“I never really enjoyed the ride,” he added.
Jeter is the last of the ‘core four’ Yankees that included Jorge Posada, Mariano Rivera, and Andy Pettitte, who were also part of the Yankee’s five World Series titles.
“It’s all about the time, you can’t do this forever,” Jeter said. “There’s other things I want to do, I want to have a family. That’s important to me.”
During his 19 major league seasons, Jeter has a .312 average, 1,876 runs scored, 256 home runs, 3,316 hits, 348 stolen bases and has made the playoff 17 times. Last year, Jeter appeared in 17 games and hit .190 with one home run and 7 RBIs.
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