MLB

Yankees’ Jeter nears 3,000 hits with new swing

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TAMPA — Derek Jeter isn’t going to hit from the left side. Nor is he choking up 3 inches. Or cheating enough to crush 30 homers.

Yet, the 36-year-old shortstop is sticking with the change he made at the plate late last season in order to rebound from a career-low .270 average.

On Sept. 11, a day when Jeter didn’t play in Texas, he was batting .260 and decided a change was necessary.

With an eye on October, hitting coach Kevin Long took advantage of Jeter not playing and eliminated Jeter’s signature two-directional stride, which was being taken advantage of by pitchers working him inside.

Jeter responded by hitting in 18 of the final 19 games (27-for-79; .342). And while the numbers weren’t there in the playoffs (10-for-40; .250), Long liked Jeter’s new approach.

“I felt it was necessary,” Jeter said of making a change from the way he had hit seemingly forever.

Now, after an offseason tutorial with Long designed to make sure 93-mph cutters don’t beat him inside, Jeter is confident eliminating the stride that went 6 inches ahead and 6 toward the plate will allow him to rebound in the first season of a three-year, $51 million deal.

“Let’s get one thing straight, when we are talking about changing a batting stance, we aren’t talking about anything radical,” said Jeter, a career .314 hitter.

“One, it puts you into position to hit earlier. Last year my stride foot got down late and I tied myself up. I got some good pitches and hit them into the ground. This frees me up a little bit more. I just got into bad habits last year.”

Jeter told Long in January that “I don’t feel great with it, but I have eight weeks.”

Yesterday, during the first full-squad workout at George M.

Steinbrenner Field, Long liked what he witnessed.

“There were more fly balls to left and left-center than in the past,” Long said. “Last

year he didn’t have a path to the ball inside.”

Sitting at the same table he did in December, when Jeter was clearly annoyed about how contract negotiations played out, the captain said that was in the past.

“We have been down that path. I wanted to be here, I’m here and I am happy about it,” said Jeter.

Jeter danced around playing any place else but short and promised to enjoy his chase of 3,000 hits (he is 74 shy). He also downplayed the Yankees’ risk of playing with an aging shortstop, and conceded the Red Sox are very strong.

And promised last year’s disappointing season or the contract negotiations won’t serve as motivational tools.

“I have always been good at separating years, good or bad,” Jeter said. “I wouldn’t say I am any more motivated by what went on during the offseason. I am pretty motivated every year.”

When Jeter was chasing Lou Gehrig’s all-time Yankee hit record in 2009, he didn’t like the attention. Now, with 3,000 arriving, he wants to attempt to make it enjoyable.

“I always try and shy away from anything personal,” Jeter said. “I couldn’t wait for [passing Gehrig] to be over with. I really didn’t like the focus to be on me. Now, I think it will be more like enjoying it every day.”

Jeter will be the 28th member of the 3,000 hit club (he ranks 36th all-time) and proud that he will do it in pinstripes.

As for the Red Sox, Jeter knows what the Yankees are in for.

“They are a really good team,” he said. “The additions they made, I assume they will be one of the favorites.”

george.king@nypost.com