TAMPA, Fla. — Shortly before noon Tuesday, a week before spring training was to begin, a Yankees employee named John Johnson received word on his two-way radio that Derek Jeter had wrapped up his work for the day and would be leaving the team’s minor league complex here. Johnson went straight to the sidewalk out front, where 40 people stood in line.

With the glowering demeanor of a drill sergeant, Johnson delivered a series of instructions that several members of his audience could recite from memory: “Single file! No chitchat! He doesn’t want to hear about your personal life, so don’t ask him about his!”

While these directives were no guarantee that Jeter would stop and sign autographs — far from one, in fact — a hush fell over the group. Was it hope, or fear? One minute passed, then two. Johnson reappeared. “If anyone from the back moves forward, we’re going to cut the session off!” he barked.