Every time he takes the field in his final season, Derek Jeter is the focus of all eyes in the ball park.
Sunday at Yankee Stadium, there was a pair of eyes watching him with more than casual interest.
Colorado shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, on the trade wish list for fans of both New York teams, watched Jeter from a seat about nine rows from the field. Tulowitzki, currently on the 15-day disabled list, is scheduled to meet Monday in Philadelphia with Dr. William Myers regarding his left hip injury. Myers performed surgery on Tulowitzki for a groin injury in 2012.
“It’s a short drive from Philly. I’m with my family. I wanted to see [Derek] Jeter play one more time,” Tulowitzki, a huge Jeter fan, told the Denver Post.
Tulowitzki wears No. 2 in honor of his idol Jeter. Before the All-Star Game in Minneapolis, he said it would be a “perfect story” for him to follow Jeter as the Yankees shortstop. Jeter was unaware Tulowitzki was even in the house for the Yankees’ 5-4 loss to Toronto. And Tulowitzki bolted after six innings.
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“Where was he?” asked Jeter.
So obviously he didn’t see his All-Star fan?
“No. Focused,” Jeter said with a smile. “They don’t play today?”
When Jeter heard of the doctor’s visit, he had a little fun with the questions.
“Did he say he came to see me? Maybe he was here to see Toronto.”
So had Jeter ever done that, spent a day off in-season watching a favorite player?
“What do you think?” Jeter said. “No, I haven’t.”