Derek Jeter - Player Profile

Player Profile

Jeter is considered to be one of the most consistent baseball players of all time. He has only played fewer than 148 games a season twice in his career: when he dislocated his left shoulder on Opening Day 2003 (119 games), and when he injured his calf in 2011 (131 games). Through the 2010 season, he averaged 194 hits, 118 runs scored and 23 stolen bases per year over the course of 152 games played. Highly competitive, Jeter once said, "If you're going to play at all, you're out to win. Baseball, board games, playing Jeopardy!, I hate to lose." Seen as one of the best players of his generation, sportswriters believe that Jeter will be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame following his retirement, and could be a unanimous selection.

"Derek Jeter has always been above the fray. As someone who's wallowed in it, 'foot-in-mouthed' it hundreds of times, said dumb things and backed up dumber ones, it's refreshing. He's shown up, played, and turned in a first-ballot Hall of Fame career in the hardest environment in sports to do any/all of the above."

An aggressive hitter, Jeter swings at most pitches in the strike zone, and many near it. Though right-handed hitters often pull the ball into left field, Jeter's signature inside-out swing, also called the "Jeterian Swing", results in most of his hits going to center and right field. Similarly, most of his home runs have been hit to right field than to center or to left, as his swing takes advantage of Yankee Stadium's close right-field fences.

Jeter is also known for his professionalism. In an age where professional athletes often find themselves in personal scandals, Jeter has mostly avoided major controversy in a high profile career in New York City while maintaining a strong work ethic. Due to his style of play, opponents and teammates hold Jeter in high esteem. A clubhouse leader, Jeter diffuses confrontations between teammates.