Jeter's wife reveals she's pregnant with couple's first child

Start spreading the news: Derek Jeter is going to be a dad.

On Monday, with the baseball world gearing up for the start of spring training, Hannah Jeter, who married the New York Yankees icon in July, revealed they're now expecting their first child, a girl, in a heartfelt post on the Players' Tribune - the sports media publication founded by her husband.

We want our kids’ lives to be as “normal” as possible. 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.” That will be the piece of him they’ll have that the rest of the world doesn’t. It will be special, and it will be theirs.

Still, though, I want them to know Derek Jeter. I feel some sadness - and Derek must as well - thinking about how our children will never get to experience that time in his life. We can show them videos, and photos, and memorabilia - I already can’t wait to show them footage of that last night at the Stadium. But I know it won’t be quite the same. I’ll tell them myself: You had to be there.

According to his wife, Jeter, who turns 43 in June, already has a name picked out for the child. Hannah Jeter also said she's been "thinking a lot about the end of (Derek's) playing career" since the Yankees announced their plans to retire his No. 2 on May 14.

In 2014, shortly after retiring from baseball following a decorated 20-year career in the Bronx, Jeter said he was excited to one day become a father.

“Kids nowadays are going to be the leaders of the future, and the leaders for not only (my nephew) Jalen, but my kids one day when I have them," Jeter told People.com.

"I look forward to being a dad."