In the ninth book in the New York Times bestselling middle grade series inspired by the life of iconic New York Yankee Derek Jeter, Derek must learn how to be a team player from the dugout and the importance of taking care of his body. Seventh grade is off to a rocky start for Derek Jeter. But he’s soon distracted by all that’s going on in his own life…which includes basketball and baseball team responsibilities. He’s talked about it with his parents, and he’s certain he can play both sports while also doing well in school. Quickly, though, the two sports begin to take their toll, and Derek finds himself on the bench with an injury. How can Derek show his commitment to his teammates, his coaches, and the sports he loves when he can’t actively participate? Inspired by Derek Jeter’s childhood, Switch-Hitter is the ninth book in Jeter Publishing’s New York Times bestselling middle-grade baseball series that focuses on key life lessons from Derek Jeter’s Turn 2 Foundation. Derek Jeter is a fourteen-time All-Star and five-time World Series winner who played for one team—the storied New York Yankees—for all twenty seasons of his major league career. His grace and class on and off the field have made him an icon and role model far beyond the world of baseball. Paul Mantell is the author of more than 100 books for young readers, including books in the Hardy Boys and Matt Christopher series. Chapter One: A New Season Chapter One A NEW SEASON “Hey, old man. It’s Vijay on the phone—for you!” Derek Jeter dropped the pile of folded clothes he’d been holding. They fell right back into the suitcase he’d been unpacking, and he hurried downstairs to pick up the phone from his mom. “Hey, Vij!” he said breathlessly. “How’s it going?” “It’s all good now that you’re back,” said Vijay with a little laugh. “How was your trip home?” “Long and boring,” Derek said. “But the summer was good—always is.” “Hey, how about we meet up on the Hill, and you can tell me all about it?” “Ah, I’d love to, but I’m just unpacking. Anyway, after twelve hours in the car, I’m kind of beat.” “Tomorrow after school, then?” “For sure. Back to St. Augustine, huh? I can’t believe school’s already starting. I just got home.” “Well, that’s what happens when you stay on vacation till the last minute,” Vijay pointed out. “Anyway, see you in class.” “ Seventh grade. Unreal, huh?” “I know. Crazy. Where did all those years go?” “Really. Well, see you tomorrow.” Derek hung up, and turned to find his mom standing there, her arms crossed and an amused look on her face. “Seventh grade,” she said. “You two are all grown up!” Derek laughed, but in a way it was true. He did feel suddenly grown-up, or at least on the verge of it. In other places kids went to different schools starting in sixth or seventh grade. He was still at St. Augustine, so going back shouldn’t have felt much different. And yet somehow it did. Derek actually felt more nervous than usual about the first day of school. The workload in seventh grade was rumored to be a lot harder. And it was definitely going to be weird going back to school and not seeing Dave there. Dave Hennum was Derek’s other best friend besides Vijay. But in June the Hennum family had moved all the way to Hong Kong. Dave’s dad had been transferred there for work, and the family was going to live there for the next two years. Derek wondered how Dave was getting along, with all his friends so far away, and him living in a strange new place, where people mostly spoke a different language. (Although, Dave had assured him that they spoke English, too.) Derek hadn’t gotten a letter from him for over a month. In that time, Derek had sent Dave three letters—not easy, considering he didn’t like letter writing to begin with. During the summer he hadn’t noticed Dave’s absence much. Days at the lake in New Jersey with his dozens of cousins were full, noisy, and busy. He’d even gone into the city with his grandma a couple of times, to play ball with the city kids he’d met the summer before. Overall he’d had his usual great time. He’d practically forgotten about Dave, except when Dave’s letters had come—which hadn’t happened since the end of July. But now, back in Michigan and with school about to start again, things already felt different. Not having Dave around, it felt like a big part of Derek’s world was gone, and it made him sad in a way he’d never felt before. Just then, though, Derek’s dad came into the house, carrying a white plastic tub full of mail. “The postman was here and dropped this off,” he said, setting it down on the floor. “I saw your name on one or two envelopes.” Derek sat down beside the tub and started rifling through the piles of envelopes, magazines, and catalogs—four days’ worth, from the time when his parents had taken off in the car to pick up Derek and his little sister, Sharlee, and drive them home from New Jersey. Soon Derek found the buried trea