New York Yankees: Derek Jeter's Chase to 3,000 Hits

Out of all the great athletes who have donned the pinstripes and played in the Bronx, none have reached 3,000 hits.  Now in his 17th season with the Yankees, Derek Jeter is stepping up to the plate to become the 28th player in Major League Baseball to hit 3,000. 

Jeter is currently sitting at 2,997 hits after spending three weeks on the DL. 

Tonight, Jeter faces Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Jeff Neimann at Yankees Stadium.  Neimann handed Jeter his 2,721st hit back in 2009, tying him with Lou Gehrig for the most hits in a Yankee uniform. 

Neimann told reporters the night would "be fun—there will be a little bit different buzz in the air, for sure, when you're going out there to take the field. There won't be any shortage of adrenaline or excitement."

As for Jeter, the pressure is definitely on.  There has been a lot of speculation about him being an "overpaid, aging" player and preventing Eduardo Nunez from blossoming at shortstop, where he excelled while Jeter was on the DL. 

Jeter has said that it is hard to try to enjoy the ride with all of this negativity around him.

The best advice for the Yanks slugger comes from "The Babe" in The Sandlot, "Remember kid, there's heroes and there's legends. Heroes get remembered, but legends never die."

Good luck to Jeter becoming a legend under the lights of his home field.