Derek Jeter, the former shortstop for the New York Yankees, said he will not be able to show up at his previous team's opening game against the Toronto Blue Jays for the 2015 MLB season, according to Bleacher Report.
According to the 40-year-old retired athlete, he'll be going on a vacation to get some time off from the sport that he has played for more than 20 years.
"I think actually I'll be out of the country," Jeter told SiriusXM Radio when he was asked if he will watch the Yankees take on the Blue Jays on April 6.
"I need to get away," he continued. "I've been playing this game professionally for parts of 23 seasons, so I need to get away from it."
Before joining the Yankees, Jeter played in the minor leagues in 1992. After four seasons, he transferred to the major leagues and debuted in May of 1995. Wearing jersey number two, Jeter played for 20 seasons with the Yankees before retiring in 2014.
His overall performance was monumental in helping the team claim five World Series championships during his time. Based on his professional career stats, he has a batting average of .310 and 3,465 hits.
Although Jeter announced that he won't be with the Yankees for its first game of the 2015 MLB season, this does not automatically mean that he has completely severed his ties with the professional baseball team.
As pointed out by CBS Sports, the retired athlete lives near the Yankees' spring training facility in Tampa, Florida. This means he can visit his former teammates and training camps anytime.
In addition, Jeter recently founded The Players' Tribune, a website that updates fans about their favorite sports and players. It also offers professional athletes an opportunity to reach out to their fans and tell their personal stories.
On Feb. 13, Jeter posted on the site and said that aside from online articles, The Players' Tribune will also tell the stories of players through podcasts, videos and audio files.
