Derek Jeter Playing 10 Years Younger

Only a year or two ago New York was all atwitter about how iconic shortstop Derek Jeter seemed to be aging in dog years, in leaps of seven seasons at a time, and how surely he was not deserving of a new, long-term contract. Well, pretty much from the moment the deal was struck the angst subsided because Jeter keeps hitting like a young man.

Last year Jeter joined the 3,000 hits club and his timing was such that he passed player after player on the all-time list all season long. Every day, it seemed, he was notching a new milestone. Then he started the 2012 season as one of the hottest hitters in the majors again. And, as it so happened, Jeter was positioned on the all-time hits list to do it all over again. Once again, it seems, Jeter is collecting a new milestone about every other day.

After 45 games, Jeter is hitting .342. He has an on-base percentage of .385 and he has added 66 hits to his lifetime hits total. He is not going to catch up to Pete Rose or Ty Cobb, but there is no reason to think he can’t keep on rolling past many other luminaries. Jeter brought 3,088 hits into the season, residing in 21st place on the career list. Going into Sunday play he had a total of 3,154 hits, tied with George Brett for 15th on the same list. That also puts him 30 behind Cal Ripken Jr.’s total of 3,184, a figure eminently reachable in the next month or so.

Acquiring 3,000 hits during a career has long been viewed as a hallmark of greatness and a feat worthy of being voted into the Hall of Fame. Jeter’s Hall of Fame credentials were established long ago and he is simply embellishing them now. If he continues to play at a high level it will be fascinating to see how many hits he can accumulate and how many all-time greats he can catch.

Twenty-eight players have reached 3,000 hits. Jeter is jetting past many of them. Staying healthy is one key to his long-range pursuit of others on the list ahead of him. And staying sharp, as in not losing his skill and judgment at the plate due to age is the other. Jeter turns 38 at the end of June. He seems to have reignited his hitting prowess over the last two seasons, but it is impossible to know how long he can keep things going at the highest level.

Certainly, Jeter has played like an All-Star in 2012. It is almost always one season at a time for guys in their late 30s and inching towards their 40s, but Jeter is fit and hitting as well as he ever as. Jeter made it clear a couple of years ago that he was not contemplating immediate retirement and that he believed he had some good years left. He showed he was right about that.

Can Jeter stroke another 100 or so hits this year? He is the Yanks’ lead-off batter, hitting well, and is healthy. It seems quite possible. If so, then he can pass Brett (any minute), Ripken, and Nap Lajoie. Eddie Murray is at 3,255 hits, 101 away. If Jeter surpasses that total, going into the off-season he would stand 12th on the all-time hits list. And if he can play with the same amount of effectiveness in 2013 he could leap-frog several more players, including Willie Mays.

It is always risky to extrapolate when the potential effects of age are factored into an equation. But if the Jeter we know and appreciate can maintain his form and bat speed he may well continue to pile up those hits over the next couple of seasons and we might wake up one day and see the guy closing in on 4,000 hits.