TAMPA — Brian Roberts doesn’t have to become Derek Jeter’s latest double-play partner to understand what the Yankees’ captain stands for.
“He has always meant a ton to me even though I have only played five games with him in the [World Baseball Classic],’’ the Yankees’ new second baseman said Monday inside the George M. Steinbrenner Field clubhouse where he checked in.
“He has always been that guy who encouraged me from the other side. One of those guys who early in my career really encouraged me, to help me believe I could play here and play at a high level.’’
Roberts and Jeter will be together for the first time as big league teammates Thursday when the initial full-squad workout is held.
Roberts, 36, believed the pep talk from Jeter came in 2004.
“I was on second [base] or something and he said, ‘You can hit .300 in this league.’ To hear it from somebody like that it kind of opens your eyes,’’ said Roberts, who has been limited to 192 games the past four seasons due to injuries. “I don’t think it’s just me, I think he does it with everybody. For some reason, when he tells it to you, you feel you are the most important person in the world. He has that personality and is so good with people.’’
The first of Roberts’ 13 years with the Orioles was the final one for Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr. so Roberts gets to witness another farewell tour.
“I have seen that whole thing play out before and it’s an amazing experience, the last couple of months with Cal,’’ Roberts said. “I remember him hitting a home run in Atlanta to give us a lead and he got a curtain call. It was like, when does that ever happen? I could see the same thing here happening.’’
Roberts’ focus isn’t on proving he can stay healthy.
“I didn’t come here to prove anything else,’’ said Roberts, who will get the first chance to replace Robinson Cano. “I came here to win championships.’’
Even when Roberts played very well from 2005 to 2009 and was an All-Star twice, he wasn’t Cano. And now isn’t the time to believe he can be anything close to the best second baseman in baseball who left The Bronx for Seattle.
“Robbie is a great player and I am not going to try to be Robbie,’’ Roberts said. “There will be people who look out there and say, ‘He is not Robbie.’’’
The switch-hitting Roberts will get a strong opportunity to be the regular second baseman, but expect to see Eduardo Nunez and Brendan Ryan play the position during the exhibition season.
“That is the plan for him to be our second baseman,’’ Joe Girardi said of Roberts. “I know he hasn’t played a full season in the last few years. He is a guy who has some age on him, too, but my plan is to run him out there almost every day.’’