Dustin Pedroia, Retired


Date of Birth: 8/17/1983
Birthplace: Woodland, California
College: Arizona State University
Nickname: Pedey

Dustin Pedroia, retired second baseman, was with the Boston Red Sox from the time they drafted him in 2004 until he retired in 2021. Prior to being drafted, Pedroia played for Arizona State University. He spent his first two years with Boston in the minor leagues, playing both shortstop and second base.

Pedroia was called up to the Red Sox on August 22, 2006 and he immediately proved that he was ready for the majors with his first hit. His first major league home run came just a few weeks later.

Pedroia's start on second base in 2007 began slowly, but by mid-June he was batting .322 with a 13-game hitting streak. He ended the season with a batting average of .317 and as winner of the American League Rookie of the Year award. The 2008 season was even better for Pedroia. He ended the season with a batting average of .326, 17 home runs and 83 RBIs. He led the American League in runs scored, led major league baseball in doubles and was tied for first place in major league baseball for number of hits.

In addition to his hitting ability, Pedroia is adept at stealing bases and he ended the 2011 season with 26 stolen bases. For all of his feats, including his excellent fielding, Pedroia won the American League MVP award in 2008. He also won the American League Gold Glove and Silver Slugger awards for second base that year. He won a second Gold Glove award in 2011 and a third one in 2013.

In December, 2008, Pedroia and the Red Sox agreed to a six-year contract worth $40.5 million. On July 23, 2013, he signed an eight-year, $110 million contract extension. He finished the 2014 season with 153 hits, 33 doubles, and a .278 batting average in 135 games.

Pedroia won his fourth Gold Glove in 2014. In 135 games at second base, he had a .997 fielding percentage with 405 assists, 96 double plays, 247 putouts, and just 2 errors.

Pedroia spent time on the DL with a hamstring strain in 2015. In 93 games with the Red Sox, he batted .291 with 111 hits, 19 doubles, and 42 RBIs. As a second baseman, he made 272 assists, 61 double plays, 165 putouts, and 6 errors in 92 games. He had a .986 fielding percentage.

Pedroia had a strong 2016 season, batting .318 with 201 hits, 36 doubles, 15 home runs, and 74 RBIs in 154 games. Defensively at second base in 152 games, he made 362 assists, 98 double plays, 245 putouts, and 6 errors for a .990 fielding percentage. In 12 at-bats in 3 postseason games, he batted .167 with just 2 hits.

Pedroia spent time on the DL in 2017, playing in just 105 games with the Red Sox. He finished the regular season with 119 hits, 19 doubles, 62 RBIs, 48 strikeouts to 49 walks, and a .293 batting average. In 4 postseason games, he batted just .125 with 2 hits. Defensively, as a second baseman in 98 games, he made 208 assists, 59 double plays, 156 putouts, and just 2 errors.

Pedroia's 2018 season ended on September 7th due to injuries. He spent almost the entire season on the DL, playing in just 3 games with the Red Sox.

Pedroia was again on the DL in 2019, missing most of the season with left knee issues. He played in just six games with the Red Sox. He missed all of the shortened 2020 season due to the same injury.

Pedroia announced his retirement on February 1, 2021.

Statistics for Pedroia in fourteen seasons (2006-2019) with the Red Sox include:

  • 8 seasons with over 150 hits, with a high of 213 in 2008
  • 5 seasons with a batting average over .300, with a high of .326 in 2008
  • 8 seasons with over 30 doubles, with a high of 54 in 2008
  • 4 seasons with 20 or more steals, with a high of 26 in 2011

Career batting statistics for Pedroia through 2019 include:

  • 1,512 games played
  • 1,805 hits
  • 394 doubles
  • 140 home runs
  • 138 stolen bases
  • 725 RBIs
  • 654 strikeouts to 624 walks
  • .299 batting average

Career fielding statistics for Pedroia at second base through 2019 include:

  • 1,492 games played
  • 4,004 assists
  • 940 double plays
  • 2,574 putouts
  • 57 errors
  • .991 fielding percentage

Personal Life

Pedroia and his wife Kelli have three sons.

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Dustin Pedroia
ESPN Sports - Dustin Pedroia