"I hung up the phone, went to the bathroom... My mom was in shock" - When Derek Jeter opened up about Yankees calling him on Draft Day

Derek Jeter grew up a New York Yankees fan. As a youngster, he idolized Dave Winfield and knew that he wanted to play professional baseball for the Bronx Bombers.

So, when the 1992 MLB Draft came along, Jeter was nervous. He was a high-profile prospect and had the opportunity to go within the first five picks. However, after five picks, his name was not called.

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Jeter was upset and went to the bathroom to give himself a minute. This is when he got the call that would change his life, via a 2017 interview with ESPN's Karl Ravech:

"I hung up the phone, went to the bathroom, and the phone rang, and my mom answered it. And then, she was sort of in shock. I could see it in her face. And she said, 'The Yankees are on the phone.'"

While Jeter was disappointed that he was not selected within the first five picks, this made up for it. He was now a member of the organization that he has been a lifelong fan of. He added:

"To be quite honest with you, I didn't even know the Yankees picked sixth because everyone said first or fifth. And, you know, it's one of those feelings you'll never forget."

Jeter later revealed that the Yankees call was a surprise. With everyone telling him where they thought he would get drafted, he did not realize the Bombers had a pick that high.

Derek Jeter had a tough time during his early years with the Yankees

New York Yankees - Derek Jeter (Photo via IMAGN)

While Derek Jeter was living his dream, it was not all sunshine and rainbows. During his time in rookie ball, he struggled. He lost confidence and would call home and let his emotions pour out. Jeter said:

"I went to rookie ball and I struggled. And it was, it was rough. And, you know, everyone has a roommate. I didnt have a roommate at the beginning because I signed late. I'm by myself struggling for the first time, calling home, crying, saying I should have gone back to school.".

This was the first time Jeter had struggled during his career, and it took its toll on him. However, he found himself at the plate and did not look back. He became one of the most feared hitters of his time and an all-time Yankee great.

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About the author

Jared "Bloomy" Bloom is a journalist covering Major League Baseball at Sportskeeda and a former college baseball pitcher from Illinois, who just graduated with a Master's degree in Sport Psychology.

A writer with over 3 years of experience, Jared is consistently more concerned with quality than quantity, thoroughly checking multiple sources of information, and prides himself in being knowledgeable not just about MLB, but the game of baseball in general. He loves breaking down plays and game-changing moments, as well as looking closer into players' statistics.

Jared is a die-hard Chicago White Sox fan, and one of his earliest memories is seeing his great-grandfather, a huge Sox fan, in his rocking chair watching a game. Jared started playing from the age of 5 with his grandfather coaching him early on.

Jared loved Tim Lincecum for his quirky delivery and looked up to him as a role model when playing. His current favorite is Phillies star Bryce Harper, an exciting player who doesn't let injuries hold him back. Jared's favorite sports moment is Mark Buehrle's opening day between-the-legs glove flip to first base in 2010.

When he is not watching or writing about baseball, Jared can be found racing BMX at his local Rockford BMX track or coaching his local youth travel baseball team.

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Edited by Jared "Bloomy" Bloom