“My favorite player growing up,” Elly De La Cruz meets childhood idol Derek Jeter at Home Run Derby

Elly De La Cruz and Derek Jeter catch up together before HR Derby on Monday night.

“My favorite player growing up,” Elly De La Cruz meets childhood idol Derek Jeter at Home Run Derby

Derek Jeter and Elly De La Cruz [Image Credit: Imago]

Cincinnati Reds star infielder Elly De La Cruz finally made his dream come true of meeting his idol Derek Jeter during the All-Star Game interview. It’s his first time preparing for the All-Star stage, and the 22-year-old already has one of the best memories to wrap the event days. 

De La Cruz mentioned how he’s been a Jeter fan since his childhood, and seeing him is one of the best moments he has experienced. He was further joined by Alex Rodriguez, and Kevin Burkhardt on the MLB on Fox set at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.

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During the interview on Monday night, Elly De La Cruz stated that he was sitting beside his idol and went on to introduce himself to the 5x World Series winner. The Reds infielder noted,

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I grew up as a Jeter fan. He was my favorite player growing up.
Elly De La Cruz as per X.

To this compliment, Derek Jeter commented, “Thank you. I appreciate that.” De La Cruz shook hands with his idol saying, “It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Furthermore, Jeter questioned the infielder why learning English was so important to him.

His reply cheered everyone up, as he said,

I would like everybody here in the USA to understand to understand what I say, and to send the message to all the kids in the Dominican that they can do it too.
Elly De La Cruz as per X.

The duo even clicked pictures together on the field. De La Cruz also mentioned how he’s learning Japanese to speak to Shohei Ohtani. “I’m learning Japanese to talk to Shohei,” he noted when he was asked this question on Sunday after being named to the team.

De La Cruz met Ohtani when the latter was still a part of the Angels. On the field, he even pinched the Japanese star to make sure he was real and not dreaming. Fans can’t wait to see them both wearing the same uniform on the field at All-Star and chatting with each other.

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Derek Jeter asks Colin Cowherd to “slow down” on Nolan Ryan question

Prior to the All-Star Game, Derek Jeter appeared on ‘The Herd’ with Colin Cowherd where one of his comparison to Nolan Ryan made the former Yankees star shut him down. A moment of awkwardness was pretty evident afterward.

Derek Jeter
Derek Jeter (Image via Imago)

Cowherd stated, “Obviously, you were in the Nolan Ryan era” as he intended to carry on the conversation regarding NL All-Star starter Paul Skenes. However, Jeter shut him down immediately saying, 

No, no no. Slow down
Derek Jeter on X.

Cowherd further questions if Jeter did not even catch the spotlight “not even an inning” during Ryan’s reign. The baseball executive replied, “No. I was way after Nolan. Way, way, way after.”

Jeter’s claim made many comments on how they were only a couple of years apart on the sports stage. Now with the All-Star Game in full go, all focus remains on the participating players on the field. This year there’ll be an interesting group of players as they take up the Home Run Derby stage, with Alec Bohm already in snatching the limelight with 21 homers in Round 1.

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