Watch: Astros’ Alex Bregman Hits Grand Slam On Day Yankees Retire Derek Jeter’s No. 2 Jersey

Derek Jeter drew wild cheers from fans at Yankee Stadium on Sunday night, as the team retired the former shortstop’s iconic No. 2 jersey during a pre-game ceremony, and even Houston Astros infielder Alex Bregman honored the New York legend with a big hit.

Astros’ Alex Bregman Hits Grand Slam, Yankees retire Derek Jeter’s No. 2 jersey

Bregman’s first-inning grand slam helped propel the Astros to a 10-7 victory over the Yankees, the second-game of a double-header. The 23-year-old third baseman dedicated the hit to Jeter, one of his heroes, whose jersey the Yankees retired in-between Sunday’s two games, the first of which the Yankees won 11-6.

“I guess it was the No. 2 magic tonight,” Bregman, who also wears the No. 2, said following the game of his first homer of the season.

The Astros infielder also had another person he admired attend Sunday’s game, very fitting for the holiday:

Bregman’s 430-foot (according to Statcast™) blast to the left-center field bleachers off Masahiro Tanaka helped Houston jump out to an early 6-0 lead.

The young third baseman, who grew up in New Mexico, discussed how much he looked up to Jeter as a child.

“You watch all those moments Jeter had with the Yankees, you can tell by the fans’ reaction how much he meant to them, how much he meant to the city, how much he meant to the game of baseball,” said Bregman. “You get chills watching some of those moments: ‘The Flip,’ the home runs, the jump throws in the hole. It was a very special ceremony.”

Bregman said he first met Jeter at an Alabama-LSU football tailgate party and then saw him play against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. He was still in awe of his grand slam until late on Sunday.

Jeter’s jersey retirement ceremony included an unveiling of a plaque with the No. 2 on it. The former shortstop — who will be 43 in June — performed the honors in front of his family and delivered an emotional speech in which he thanked the Yankees organization and fans for their unending support. Jeter rode into the infield on a golf cart while Frank Sinatra’s “My Way” blared.

Before that, however, Jeter started his spiel by wishing a Happy Mothers’ Day to all the mothers in the world, and gave a special shout-out to the important women in his life including his wife Hannah Davis, with whom he is expecting his first child.

“First of all, I just want to say Happy Mothers’ Day to all the mothers out there,” Jeter began by telling the Bronx crowd, which cheered loudly. “Especially my mom, my grandmother, my sister and my wife who is very soon going to be a mother.”

It was announced in February that Jeter and Davis are expecting a girl.

“Thank you to George Steinbrenner and the Steinbrenner family for giving me the opportunity to play my entire career for the only team I ever wanted to play for,” Jeter, the 2000 World Series MVP, continued before thanking his coaches, managers and fans — both those attending the ceremony and watching at home.

The legend also said he was recently asked who he would exchange places with if he had the opportunity, and revealed his answer to Yankees fans, whom he called “the greatest” and who responded with roaring cheers and applause.

“I say this very humbly, but there isn’t a person or player I would trade places with who’s playing now or ever,” Jeter said. “And the reason I say that is because I got a chance to play for a first-class organization and the greatest fans in the history of sports.

“You know, you play here in New York for twenty years and you learn that time flies, memories fade but family is forever. And I’ll be eternally grateful to be a part of the Yankee family, so I can’t thank you guys enough. Thank you very much,” the five-time World Series champion finished off by saying.

Yankees co-owner Jennifer Steinbrenner Swindal presented the five-time Gold Glove Award winner and 1996 AL Rookie of the Year with a 14-karat white gold ring with “2” in diamonds, surrounded by diamonds.

Jeter’s former Yankees teammates Mariano Rivera, Paul O’Neill, Tino Martinez, David Cone and Hideki Matsui all attended Sunday’s ceremony, though Alex Rodriguez was absent. Yankees spokesman Ron Berkowitz stated Rodriguez was in Miami, spending time with family.

Astros designated hitter Carlos Beltran, another former teammate of Jeter’s, also gave the retired star a new Monument Park navy blazer as part of the ceremony.

Jeter, who played his entire Major League Baseball career (1995-2014) for the Yankees originally wore a No. 74 jersey at his major league camp in 1994. The following spring, clubhouse manager Nick Priore switched it to No. 17 before finally settling on No. 2, which Jeter wore from his big league debut on May 29, 1995 to his final game on Sept. 28, 2014. Then-Yankees manager Buck Showalter was also believed to have influenced the jersey number change.

“There’s rumors out there that Buck suggested I be No. 2,” Jeter said. “He’s never told me that personally, but I’ve heard that he’s said it and I appreciate it if he thought that much of me to give me the number 2.”

Jeter was recently the center of speculation himself: he and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush were rumored to be among a group of high-profile bidders to buy the Miami Marlins. However, Jeter dismissed questions about those reports on Sunday, saying there is no basis for the claims.

“There’s nothing to report on that. Absolutely nothing,” the 14-time All-Star said. “I think sometimes people get ahead of themselves, and there was a story that got way ahead of themselves a few weeks back.”

Other former Yankees players who have had their jerseys retired recently include Rivera (42), Jorge Posada (20), Andy Pettitte (46) and Bernie Williams (51). Jeter’s plaque will be kept at Yankee Stadium alongside those of other team legends like Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle and Yogi Berra. The Yankees have retired the jerseys of 22 players in total, the most by far among MLB teams.

Jeter, who served as the Yankees’ captain during his last 12 seasons, retired with 3,465 career hits, the sixth-most in MLB history.

NEW YORK, NY – MAY 14: Former New York Yankees great, Derek Jeter stands in front of his plaque during a pregame ceremony honoring Jeter and retiring his number 2 at Yankee Stadium on May 14, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)

Article by Pablo Mena