Yankees' Gregorius on replacing Jeter: 'I think I have the fans' support'
Didi Gregorius - the 24-year-old shortstop with just 191 games of experience in the major leagues - inherited the unenviable task of replacing Derek Jeter when he was acquired by the New York Yankees earlier this month.
Gregorius, however, said Friday he believes he'll take his position in the Bronx with the fans behind him.
"I had some comments on Twitter saying: 'Just be you. Don’t worry about what other people say,'" Gregorius told Dan Martin of the New York Post. "I think they're already supporting me without even knowing how I play. I think I have the fans' support."
Jeter's illustrious tenure with the Yankees spanned two decades and yielded five World Series championships, but Gregorius seems more preoccupied with elevating his performance than replacing the franchise icon.
"I wouldn't say it’s hard," Gregorius said. "Jeter is Jeter. All everybody is gonna be talking about is Jeter. But for me, since I’m learning to play the game, I just have to focus on the game."
Gregorius doesn't boast the kind of offensive potential that facilitated Jeter's rise to stardom - he managed a measly 81 OPS+ across 80 games with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2014 - but shares the captain's indefatigable desire to win.
"If you're a guy like me, you want to get a ring," Gregorius said. "It doesn't matter which team I'm on. I play to win."