2). Derek would use all the negative criticism as a motivational tool to become a better player. Derek would end up getting drafted 6th overall by the New York Yankees in the 1992 MLB Draft and signing for $700,000(Jockbio, 2011).
Early Career.
The minute Derek was drafted; he was put under a magnifying glass. People were expecting big things out of him the minute he stepped out on the field. In his first full season with a Yankee affiliate team out of Tampa, Derek struggled and hit .210 and made 21 errors (Jockbio, 2011). That next spring, Derek was invited to major league camp. He started to realize that none of these players were that much better than him skill wise but all of them were just more consistent. This what he said was the defining moment that helped turn his career around (Men's Health, 2013, p.2). In 1994, Derek was named the Minor League Baseball Player of the year and by 1996 was playing shortstop for the most prestigious franchise in baseball, the New York Yankees (Jockbio, 2011).
The Captain.
In Derek's first full season, the New York Yankees would end up beating the Atlanta Braves in the 1996 World Series. After just one season Derek was a well-respected player and looked at as a leader of the team. His first All- Star appearance came in 1998 and that year also came with another World Series trophy. World Series trophies would also come in 1999 and 2000 giving them a three-peat (Jockbio, 2011). In all Derek has won five championships, five gold gloves, five silver sluggers, and thirteen All-Star selections and counting (Grotenstein, 2013, p. 3). Derek has been known as one of the best and most feared hitters in the last twenty years. In the field, he is one of the most aggressive players and will always give up his body for the better of the team. He is thought to be a first-ballot Hall of Famer for sure.
Leadership on the Field.
Derek is looked at as the leader on the field for multiple reasons.
