Yelich watched Jeter, Yanks growing up

JUPITER, Fla. -- Growing up on the West Coast didn't stop Christian Yelich from being a Derek Jeter fan.

Yelich, one of the top prospects in the game, is from Thousand Oaks, Calif. But as a kid, his favorite player was the Yankees captain.

"I like the way he went about it," said Yelich, ranked as the Marlins' No. 2 prospect. "When I was a really little kid, just getting into baseball, the Yankees were winning like three World Series in a row. Jeter was always on TV. When you are a Little Leaguer watching baseball, he was always on."

The Marlins faced the Yankees on Friday afternoon. Jeter, recovering from left ankle surgery, did not make the trip to Jupiter.

Yelich, 21, has seen Jeter play in person -- in 2010 in the All-Star Game, which was played in Anaheim. He's also been to Yankee Stadium.