Yankees legend Derek Jeter talks about returning to the mound following his cover appearance on MLB The Show 23 Collector's Edition

Derek Jeter joked about considering a return to baseball after being chosen as the cover star of the popular video game "MLB The Show 23" Collector's Edition. Miami Marlins star Jazz Chisholm Jr. will be the cover athlete for the standard edition of the latest simulation title from San Diego Studios.

On Wednesday night, Derek Jeter was a guest on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" and talked about his unusual comeback to the sport. He quipped:

''You know, I have been contemplating coming out of retirement for a few years. And I figured it is easy to do that in a video game."

Jeter also gave fans a glimpse into his competitive side as he recalled trying to find new ways to make his numbers in the video game better than his actual numbers. On being asked if he remembered the first time he played as himself in the game, he said:

''I do, yeah. And when you play for the first time, first of all, it's an awesome experience, playing as yourself. (Be)cause you grow up playing as your favorite players, but then my mind just went into 'How can I rig it?' So that my performance is better on the video game than it is on the field. I didn't figure that out.''

The New York Yankees legend spent his entire career with the team and was part of five World Series-winning teams, including three consecutive triumphs from 1998 to 2000.

Jeter was inducted into the MLB Pro Baseball Hall of Fame in 2020. His selection got near-unanimous approval, with 396 voting for him out of a total of 397. Only Mariano Rivera, another New York Yankees legend, boasts a better percentage of votes obtained (100%) for his enshrinement.

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Derek Jeter's iconic 2014 Nike ad

Derek Jeter #2 of the New York Yankees signs autographs for fans after winning the last regular season game at Yankee Stadium 7-3 against the Baltimore Orioles on September 21, 2008 in the Bronx borough of New York City. The Yankees are playing their final season in the 85-year-old ballpark and plan on moving into the new Yankee Stadium across the street to start the 09 season.

Nike's Air Jordan came out with a brilliant commercial before Jeter's final game in 2014, paying tribute to one of the game's greatest players.

Last year, Philadelphia Phillies manager Rob Thomson spoke about his cameo in the famous ad:

"I remember going to the Staten Island ballpark at 7 a.m. and didn’t do my thing until 4 p.m.. All I did was go like that [tipping his cap] and went back to the city.”

The 100-second video, titled RE2PECT, features many famous names, such as Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods and Mariano Rivera, tipping their hats to Derek Jeter as he prepares to bat in his final game.