Dick Groch, the scout who signed Derek Jeter to Yankees, dead at 84
Dick Groch, the former scout who discovered Yankees legend Derek Jeter, died on Wednesday in Port Huron, Michigan.
He was 84.
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Groch’s family confirmed to MLB.com that he had died, while the Yankees honored Groch with a moment of silence before Game 3 of the American League Wild Card Series against the Red Sox.
Groch became synonymous with the Yankees’ decision to pick Jeter with the sixth overall selection in the 1992 draft and famously told scouting director Bill Livesey about Jeter’s commitment to the University of Michigan that “he’s not going” and that “the only place Derek Jeter is going is Cooperstown.”
The declaration was prophetic considering what Jeter would go on to do over the course of his career, which included four World Series titles before he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2021.
Over his 20-year career, Jeter hit .310/.377/.440 with 3,465 hits and 260 home runs.
Groch began his career as a high school coach and teacher before taking a job with St. Clair Community College, coaching baseball, basketball and cross country. He won Junior College Coach of the Year in 1970, 1972 and 1976.
He went on to scout for the Expos and the Yankees, remaining with the Bronx Bombers until 2002, when he joined the Brewers organization.
![Derek Jeter (2) [557] receivers a bronze bat from former New York Yankee scout Dick Groch prior to a game between the New York Yankees and the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park in Milwaukee, WI.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/10/GettyImages-579104130.jpg?w=1024)
Giants general manager Zack Minasian, Brewers assistant general manager Karl Mueller and Angels pro scouting director Derek Watson are among those who learned talent evaluation under Groch during his time in Milwaukee.
“He gets the accolades for Jeter, and that he should, but I liked Dick because he created good debate in meetings,” former Brewers GM Doug Melvin said, according to MLB.com.
“He didn’t just sit there and agree with everybody. He made you debate from the other side of the table to make sure you’re right.”
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