Dustin Pedroia

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Pedroia was selected by the Red Sox in the 2004 MLB draft and made his major league debut in 2006. He became a full-time player for Boston in 2007, winning the AL Rookie of the Year Award. He was a member of the Red Sox World Series championship teams in 2007 and 2013. Pedroia was the last player from the 2007 World Series team to leave the club. A knee injury late in the 2017 season marked the end of his effective play. After playing in only nine major league games over the 2018 and 2019 seasons, including missing the 2018 postseason, he also missed all of the shortened 2020 season. He announced his retirement on February 1, 2021.

In Their Own Story

Pedroia’s professional journey began when the Red Sox selected him in the second round (65th pick overall) of the 2004 MLB draft. After three seasons in the minors batting .308, he made his major league debut in 2006, hitting just .191 in 89 at-bats before becoming the full-time starter in 2007. That season, despite an early slump, he recovered to hit a five-hit game against the Giants and made a crucial diving stop to preserve Clay Buchholz's no-hitter on September 1. In Game 7 of the 2007 ALCS against the Indians, Pedroia homered and doubled for five RBI to secure a World Series berth, then became only the second player and first rookie to lead off a World Series with a home run in the opening at-bat against the Rockies. His 2008 MVP season saw him hit .326 with 17 home runs, save +9.7 runs defensively, and steal 20 bases. He later signed an eight-year, $110 million extension on July 23, 2013, after playing all 160 games that year to help win another World Series.

Reader's Guide

Pedroia was a proficient contact hitter with a very low strikeout rate and 'a surprising amount of power,' whose defense at second base has been rated significantly above-average. Pedroia was the first Red Sox infielder to win four Gold Gloves. Born and raised in Woodland, California, northwest of Sacramento, Pedroia's parents operated a tire shop where they worked 14-hour days. His mother, Debbie Pedroia, played tennis at Sacramento City College. Pedroia's older brother, Brett, played baseball as a catcher at Shasta College. Pedroia attended Woodland High School and played football and baseball. His football career ended as a freshman quarterback; a hit from future All-Pro NFL linebacker Lance Briggs shattered his ankle. As a senior baseball player, Pedroia did not strike out all season, compiled a .445 batting average and was chosen as his league's most valuable player. He attended Arizona State University, where he played college baseball for the Arizona State Sun Devils baseball team. He was teammates with Ian Kinsler and Andre Ethier. In three years at ASU, Pedroia never hit below .347 and had a career average of .384, starting all 185 games. To help ASU recruit better pitchers, Pedroia also relinquished the last two years of his athletic scholarship. He was named ASU On Deck Circle Most Valuable Player; other winners have included Ike Davis, Willie Bloomquist, Paul Lo Duca, and Barry Bonds.

Did You Know?

• Pedroia was the first Red Sox infielder to win four Gold Gloves.
• He was the first second baseman to win an American League MVP Award since Nellie Fox in 1959.
• Pedroia homered in the first at bat of the 2007 World Series, making him only the second player, and the first rookie, to lead off the Series with a home run.
• He was the last player from the 2007 World Series team to leave the club.