Dustin Pedroia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dustin Pedroia
Pedroia with the Boston Red Sox in 2016
Second baseman
Born: (1983-08-17) August 17, 1983 (age 41) Woodland, California, U.S.
Batted: Right Threw: Right
debut
August 22, 2006, for the Boston Red Sox
Last appearance
April 17, 2019, for the Boston Red Sox
MLB statistics
Batting average	.299
Home runs	140
Runs batted in	725
Teams
Boston Red Sox (2006–2019)
Career highlights and awards
4× All-Star (2008–2010, 2013) 2× World Series champion (2007, 2013) AL MVP (2008) AL Rookie of the Year (2007) 4× Gold Glove Award (2008, 2011, 2013, 2014) Silver Slugger Award (2008) Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame
Medals Men's baseball Representing USA Pan American Games Silver 2003 Santo Domingo Team

Dustin Luis Pedroia (born August 17, 1983) is a former American baseball player. He was a second baseman for the Boston Red Sox for his entire career, from 2006 to 2019. Pedroia was known for his amazing defense and strong hitting. He was a four-time All-Star.

He won the Rookie of the Year Award in 2007. The next year, in 2008, he was named the Most Valuable Player of the American League. He also won a Silver Slugger Award that year for his hitting. Pedroia earned four Gold Glove Awards for his excellent fielding. He helped the Red Sox win the World Series twice, in 2007 and 2013. He retired from baseball on February 1, 2021.

Early Life and High School Baseball

Dustin Pedroia grew up in Woodland, California. His parents worked long hours at their tire shop. His mom played tennis, and his older brother played baseball.

Pedroia went to Woodland High School. He played both football and baseball. A football injury to his ankle ended his football career early. In his senior year of high school baseball, he was a fantastic hitter. He never struck out and had a .445 batting average. He was even named his league's most valuable player.

College Baseball Career

After high school, Pedroia played college baseball at Arizona State University (ASU). He played shortstop and was teammates with future MLB players Ian Kinsler and Andre Ethier. Pedroia played in every game for three years at ASU. He always hit above .347, with a career average of .384. He was a very important player for his college team.

Professional Baseball Career

Starting in the Minor Leagues

The Boston Red Sox chose Dustin Pedroia in the second round of the 2004 MLB draft. He was the 65th player picked overall. Before playing in the major leagues, Pedroia spent three seasons in Minor League Baseball. He played both second base and shortstop. During his time in the minor leagues, he had a batting average of .308.

Playing for the Boston Red Sox

First Years: 2006–2007

Pedroia first joined the Red Sox in 2006, but he didn't hit very well at first. In 2007, he became the team's full-time second baseman. He had a tough start but quickly improved. He even had a 13-game hitting streak. He made an amazing diving play to help his teammate Clay Buchholz pitch a no-hitter game. Pedroia won the American League Rookie of the Year award in 2007.

The Red Sox made it to the 2007 World Series that year. Pedroia hit a home run in his very first at bat of the series. This made him only the second player ever, and the first rookie, to start the World Series with a home run. The Red Sox won the World Series, giving Pedroia his first championship ring.

MVP Season: 2008

Pedroia had an incredible year in 2008. He won the American League MVP award. He also received a Gold Glove Award for his defense and a Silver Slugger Award for his hitting. He was the first Red Sox second baseman to win a Silver Slugger Award. He was also the first Red Sox second baseman to win a Gold Glove since 1972.

He hit .326 with 17 home runs. He made only six errors all season, showing how great he was defensively. He also stole 20 bases. His performance was so good that it was considered "superstar" level. Pedroia was only the third player in MLB history to win Rookie of the Year and MVP in back-to-back seasons.

2009 Season

Pedroia bats against Baltimore in August 2009

In December 2008, Pedroia signed a new contract with the Red Sox. He also announced he would play for the United States team in the 2009 World Baseball Classic. He got the first-ever major league hit at Citi Field during an exhibition game. He also hit a home run in his first at bat of the 2009 season.

Pedroia was chosen to start in the 2009 AL All-Star Team. However, he had to miss the game to be with his wife, who was having pregnancy complications. Later that season, he hit two home runs in one game for the first time in his career.

2010 Season

In 2010, Pedroia had a disagreement with an umpire about the speed of play. He said that if the umpire didn't like Red Sox and Yankees games, he shouldn't work them.

On June 24, 2010, Pedroia had an amazing game. He got 5 hits, 5 RBI, and hit three home runs. The Red Sox won the game 13–11. The next day, he broke a bone in his foot after fouling a ball off it. This injury caused him to miss most of the 2010 season. He was chosen for the 2010 AL All-Star team but couldn't play because of his injury.

2011 Season

Pedroia bounced back strong in 2011. He batted .307 and hit 21 home runs. He won a Fielding Bible Award as the best defensive second baseman in MLB. He also had a 25-game hitting streak, which was the longest for a Red Sox second baseman. His performance in 2011 was considered "MVP-caliber."

2012 Season

Pedroia with the Red Sox in 2012

In September 2012, Pedroia broke his left ring finger. Even though it was painful, he decided to keep playing through the injury.

2013 Season

In July 2013, Pedroia signed a long-term contract extension with the Red Sox. He played in 160 games, more than any other Red Sox player that season. He had a great year and won his third Gold Glove Award. He also won the Wilson Overall Defensive Player of the Year Award for the American League. The Red Sox won the World Series again, giving Pedroia his second championship.

After the 2013 season, Pedroia had surgery on his thumb. He had torn a ligament sliding into first base on opening day.

2014 Season

In May 2014, Pedroia hit his 100th career home run and his 300th career double. His hitting numbers were not as high as in previous years. However, his defense remained excellent. He won his fourth Gold Glove Award at second base. This made him the first Red Sox infielder to win four Gold Gloves. He also won his third Fielding Bible Award.

2015 Season

Pedroia started the 2015 season with two home runs in the Red Sox's first game. In June, he was placed on the disabled list because of a hamstring injury.

2016 Season

Pedroia had a very strong hitting month in August. He had a streak of 11 hits in a row over three games. He almost tied the major league record of 12 consecutive hits. During this streak, he reached base safely 12 times in a row. In 154 games, he batted .318 with 201 hits and 15 home runs.

The Red Sox won their division in 2016. However, they lost in the playoffs. In October, Pedroia had surgery on his left knee. He won a 2016 Fielding Bible award and the Wilson Defensive Player of the Year Award for second base.

Later Years and Injuries: 2017–2020

Starting in 2017, Pedroia faced many challenges with injuries, especially to his left knee. He was placed on the disabled list three times that season. He finished the 2017 season playing in only 105 games. In October 2017, he had major knee surgery. This meant he would miss the start of the 2018 season.

In 2018, Pedroia tried to come back but only played in three games. He kept having problems with his left knee and was placed on the disabled list for most of the season. The Red Sox won the 2018 World Series that year. Even though Pedroia didn't play in the postseason, he still received a World Series ring.

In 2019, Pedroia continued to struggle with his knee. He played in only six games before returning to the injured list. He had another knee surgery in August 2019. He missed the entire 2020 season due to his ongoing knee issues.

Career Statistics

In his 14 seasons, Dustin Pedroia played in 1,512 games. He had a career batting average of .299. He hit 140 home runs and had 725 runs batted in. He also stole 138 bases. As a second baseman, his fielding percentage was .991, which is excellent. In 51 playoff games, he batted .233 with 5 home runs and 25 RBI.

Retirement

On February 1, 2021, Dustin Pedroia announced he was retiring from Major League Baseball. On June 25, 2021, the Red Sox honored him at Fenway Park. They also announced that he would be inducted into the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame in 2022.

Honors and Awards

Amateur and Minor League Awards

Major League Awards

Personal Life

Pedroia in 2008

Dustin Pedroia had several nicknames in Boston, including Pedey, the Laser Show, and the Muddy Chicken. His family has Swiss Italian and Portuguese roots. The Red Sox officially list him as 5 feet 9 inches tall, but he has said he is 5 feet 7 inches.

Pedroia is a fan of the NBA's Sacramento Kings and the NFL's San Francisco 49ers. He also enjoys playing the card game cribbage.

In 2009, Pedroia was featured on the cover of the baseball video game MLB 09: The Show. He also appeared in commercials for the game. Dustin and his wife, Kelli, have three sons. They live in Chandler, Arizona.

See also

In Spanish: Dustin Pedroia para niños

• List of Major League Baseball annual runs scored leaders
• List of Silver Slugger Award winners at second base
• List of Gold Glove Award winners at second base
• List of Major League Baseball players who spent their entire career with one franchise