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“How Can I Rig It?”: 5X World Series Winner Derek Jeter’s Spirit Drove Him to Chase Perfection With Different Pinstripes

Published 02/05/2023, 8:18 AM EST

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Derek Jeter has always been in it to win it. Never one to do things half-heartedly, the former Yankee worked hard to get to the level he is regarded at today. Even if a lot about his position comes from innate talent; hard work and humility seem like the two cornerstones of Jeter’s success. And although he’s now retired, the former captain recently achieved another accolade to add to his already long list.

The popular video game MLB The Show recently honored Jeter by making him the cover athlete of the collector’s edition of the 2023 version. The game is currently the only MLB simulation video game around and the standard version features Marlin’s star center fielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. When asked if Jeter had ever played himself in any video game before, he had a very Derek Jeter-esque response.

Derek Jeter tried to improve his own performance on the field via video games

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Captain Clutch recently appeared on a segment of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and the host revealed the special edition of the game series. Fallon asked him if he remembered playing himself in a video game for the first time. And Jeter revealed the competitive side that made him a star during his twenty-season career with the Yankees.

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”I do. Yeah, I do. And when you play for the first time, first of all, it’s an awesome experience, playing as yourself. (Be)cause you grew up and you’re playing as your favorite players. But then my mind just went to ‘How can I rig it?’ So actually that my performance is better on the video game than it actually is on the field. I didn’t figure that out, but that’s my first thought,” Jeter told Fallon.

Jeter says he’s been thinking of coming out of retirement!

When Fallon unveiled the game cover, Jeter jokingly said he might go back to baseball. “I’ve been contemplating coming out of retirement for a few years. I figure it’s a lot easier to do it in a video game,” the former shortstop told the late-night show host. It’s almost been a decade since Jeter retired, and his fans would see him back on the diamond in a heartbeat.

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Derek Jeter’s Shocking Thought of “Coming Out of Retirement” Leaves MLB Fans With an Exciting Present to Enjoy

Fallon also said he was wondering what he would look like in MLB The Show, so he had a mock-up done of himself. And when the host showed a video to the audience hitting a homer in the game, Jeter had something to say. “I’ve never seen you look serious,” the former Yankee quipped.

WATCH THIS STORY – Biggest Players Who Made The Cover of The MLB The Show Video Game

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The two also played a game of True Confessions that many might find rather scandalizing!

Would you want to play the new collector’s edition of MLB The Show? Tell us in the comments section below!

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Written by:

Arunima Bhanot

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Arunima Bhanot is an MLB writer at EssentiallySports. Having earned an English literature degree from Lady Shri Ram College, University of Delhi, Arunima has always been interested in writing. She's a fan of archery and was the captain of her college team for two years running. She's an avid reader who also loves photography and travel, and you can find her talking constantly about books and anime on her Instagram!
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Edited by:

Abhishek Kumar