YANKEE DOODLE DADDY: GIRL FOR JETER, HANNAH
Derek, Hannah greet Bella the ball(game)
THERE’S A NEW Bambino in No. 2’s clubhouse.
Yankees legend Derek Jeter and his wife Hannah have welcomed their first child — a baby girl named Bella Raine.
“Congratulations Derek and @hannahbjeter on the birth of your baby girl, Bella Raine Jeter, born Thursday, Aug. 17,” The Players’ Tribune, which Jeter founded, announced Friday on Twitter.
The Yankees congratulated the former shortstop with a tweet shortly after the announcement.
“Congrats to Derek & Hannah Jeter on the birth of their daughter, Bella Raine Jeter,” the team’s account wrote. “We can’t wait to meet her!”
The five-time World Series champion and his wife revealed they were expecting a girl in February with a post to The Players’ Tribune written in Hannah’s words.
“We want our kids’ lives to be as ‘normal’ as possible,” the 27-yearold model explained. “They’re going to be born into such an extraordinary situation. They’re going to have to be some strong little people. We don’t want them to be defined by their dad’s name — for them, we want him to just be ‘Dad.’”
The 43-year-old Jeter, who is part of a group that recently agreed to purchase the Miami Marlins, cited his desire to start a family as part of his decision to retire from baseball following the 2014 season.
Current Yankees pitcher, and father of four, C.C. Sabathia said he spoke to Jeter Friday, and offered up a few parenting tips.
“I talked to him more about the baby than anything else,” he told the Daily News. “I’m excited for him and everything he’s got going on in his life. I’m just anxious to see him with a baby and doing that type of stuff, so that will be fun.
“Be patient,” he added. “It’s rough, but it’s fun.”
He and Hannah — a former Sports Illustrated swimsuit cover gal — got engaged in 2015 and married a year later.
Hannah’s baby bump was clearly visible on May 14 as she accompanied her husband on the field at his number retirement ceremony at Yankee Stadium. Jeter earned a loud cheer as he referenced his future child during his speech at the event, which fell on Mother's Day.
“I just want to say Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers out there,” Jeter began. “Especially my mom, my grandmother, my sister and my wife, who is very soon going to be a mother.”
Jeter — who spent 20 seasons in pinstripes — dated a number of high-profile celebrities over the course of his playing days and was previously engaged to actress Minka Kelly.
He began dating Hannah, whose last name was Davis before they married, in 2012.
Jeter retired with 3,465 hits in his career — the most in Yankees history and sixth-most all-time. He is currently awaiting official approval to become an owner of the Marlins after his group, which was also led by New York businessman Bruce Sherman, won with a bid of $1.2 billion.
His new daughter shares a birthday with Jeter’s close friend and fellow Core Four member Jorge Posada, 46, who was the catcher alongside The Captain for 17 seasons. Jeter was the best man at Posada’s wedding.