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So how strange is it that he won't be playing in the sport's mid-summer showcase on Tuesday?
Especially if he's the newest member of The 3,000 Hit Club?
Actually, neither Jeter nor his partner on the left side of the New York Yankees infield, Alex Rodriguez, will be making the trip to Arizona for the All-Star game.
According to MLB.com's Bryan Hoch, Jeter decided that playing in the game wasn't a good idea after returning from a calf injury that put him on the disabled list. He made the call after consulting with team officials. Rodriguez has been struggling with a sore right knee that had him out of the Yankees lineup for Friday's game against the Rays — which has since been rained out — and set to undergo an MRI exam.
Jeter and Rodriguez join reliever Mariano Rivera as Yankees opting out of Tuesday's game. Rivera has a sore triceps and wants to use the All-Star break for rest and recovery. But the Yankees will still have plenty of representation at Chase Field on Tuesday with Curtis Granderson, Robinson Cano and Russell Martin on the AL roster.
The Indians' Asdrubal Cabrera and Rangers' Adrian Beltre will presumably take over at shortstop and third base in the AL starting lineup. Cabrera is hitting .291/.343/.491 with 14 home runs and 50 RBIs, while also providing solid defense. He's one of the major reasons for Cleveland's first-place standing in the AL Central. Beltre has a .273/.316/.480 average to go with 16 homers. His 67 RBIs are second in the AL.
So who replaces Jeter and A-Rod on the AL All-Star roster? Manager Ron Washington now needs a reserve shortstop and third baseman.
Tigers fans are hoping the shortstop is Jhonny Peralta, who is having a resurgent season — .310/.362/.530, 14 home runs, 50 RBIs —*and putting up better numbers than any shortstop in the AL besides Cabrera. The Rays' Ben Zobrist was one of the five AL Final Vote candidates and can play several positions, but third base isn't usually one of them. How about the Royals' Alex Gordon, also among those up for the last spot on the AL roster? Until moving to the outfield two seasons ago, he played most of his career at third base.
But back to Jeter, who says he plans on skipping the All-Star festivities altogether. Shouldn't he be in Arizona, regardless of whether or not he plays in the game? Jeter is one of the game's most recognizable figures, playing for its most famous team, and will likely have just achieved a career milestone that only 27 other players in baseball history have reached.
However, after admitting that he really hasn't been enjoying the ride on the way to 3,000 hits, perhaps Jeter truly needs a break.