Second baseman
Pedroia, 37, spent his entire 17-year professional career in the Red Sox organization after being selected by the club in the second round of the 2004 June Draft. He was a three-time World Series champion (2007, ’13, ’18) and was named American League Rookie of the Year in 2007 and Most Valuable Player in 2008. He earned four All-Star Game selections (2008-10, ’13), four Gold Glove Awards at second base (2008, ’11, ’13 -14), and a 2008 Silver Slugger Award, and is the only runner-up baseman once named Red Sox MVP by the Boston Baseball Writers (2008, ’12). In 2012, Pedroia was named the starting second baseman of the All-Fenway Team.
“Dustin is so much more than his American League Most Valuable Player award, his All-Star Game selections and the golden gloves he has amassed during his impressive 17-year career with our organization,” said CEO-owner John Henry.
Dustin came to represent the kind of persistence, passion and competitive drive that resonates with baseball fans everywhere and especially with Red Sox fans. He played the game he loves in the service of our club, its principles and in the pursuit of championships. Most of all, we are eternally grateful to him for what he has brought to our club and our region as an important role model showing us just how much we can achieve with determination and hard work. ”
“Dustin has been an integral part of our club from the day of the day until his retirement,” said Chairman Tom Werner. “During his time with the Red Sox, we had the chance to watch Dustin evolve into one of the best second basemen in the game as a player and grow up as the husband of Kelli and father of his three incredible children. The full impact of the Pedroia family extends well beyond the walls of Fenway Park and into the Boston community through their work with military families and the Jimmy Fund. We congratulate Dustin on a great career and thank him and Kelli for their contributions to our club and our community. “
“Championships and injuries never faltered Dustin’s disciplined approach,” said President and CEO Sam Kennedy. “His work ethic is unparalleled, and we saw him attack his rehab during the final chapter of his career with the same intensity with which he approached the batter’s box in his prime. I know hanging his spikes isn’t an easy decision for a competitor of his caliber. We are lucky enough to have worn him in a Red Sox uniform for so long and look forward to welcoming him back to Fenway Park to celebrate his career. “
In Major League history, Pedroia is the only player to ever win a World Series title and to earn MVP, Rookie of the Year and Gold Glove awards in their first two full seasons, after completing this 2007-08 achievement. have accomplished. The only other players to have achieved all of these achievements at some point in their careers are National Baseball Hall of Famers Willie Mays, Frank Robinson, Johnny Bench and Cal Ripken Jr., as well as Pete Rose, Thurman Munson, Albert Pujols, Buster Posey and Cody Bellinger.
Pedroia was the Red Sox ‘nominee for the MLB Players Alumni Association’s Heart and Hustle Award in seven consecutive seasons from 2010-16 and was named MLB’s overall winner in 2013. The prize is awarded annually to an active player who demonstrates a passion for the game. of baseball and best embodies the values, spirit and traditions of the game. He also received the Boston Baseball Writers’ Jackie Jensen Award in 2011 and 2014, presented annually to a Red Sox player for enthusiasm and determination.
In the 120-year history of the Red Sox, Pedroia’s 1,506 games played 11th place of all time and are the club’s second most second baseman, trailing only Bobby Doerr (1,865). Pedroia played in 14 Major League-seasons from 2006-19, along with Doerr and David Ortiz for seventh place in franchise history, behind only Carl Yastrzemski (23), Dwight Evans (19), Ted Williams (19), Tim Wakefield ( 17), Jim Rice (16) and Jason Varitek (15). Pedroia made 11 consecutive opening days from 2007-17, trailing only Yastrzemski (12 in left field) for the longest streak ever by a Red Sox player at any position. In the 11 seasons prior to 2007 (1996-2006), 10 different players made Opening Day-starts at second base for Boston.
In his Major League-career, Pedroia batted .299 (1,805-for-6,031) with a .365 on-base percentage, 140 home runs, 394 doubles, 725 RBI, 922 runs scored, 138 stolen bases, and only 30 fewer (624 ) then strikeouts (654). In Red Sox history, he is among the top 10 of all time in hits (8th), doubles (6th), runs (10th), steals (6th), extra-base hits (8th, 549), total bases (8th) , 2,649)) and at-batons (9th). During his 10-year trajectory from 2007-16, his 50.6 wins over the substitute sixth in the majors behind only Robinson Canó (57.6), Adrián Beltré (56.2), Albert Pujols (55.3), Miguel Cabrera (54.8) and Clayton Kershaw (53.9), according to Baseball-Reference. In that 10-year period, Pedroia batted .303 and finished second in the AL in doubles (371), fourth in hits (1,666) and fourth in runs scored (869).
Pedroia hit at least .300 in a season five times and was the only big league player to hit at least .275 in each of the 11 seasons of 2007-17 (min. 300 PA). His five games with at least five hits are the most in Red Sox history, and he is the only player of the franchise to ever record as many as six hitting streaks from 10 or more games in a single season (2016). His 25-game hitting streak in 2011 is the longest ever by a Red Sox second baseman, while his 138 steals are the most of the franchise at his position. Pedroia is the only second baseman in Red Sox history to have scored at least 200 hits and 100 runs in a season (2008, ’16). He still holds franchise records for one season in batting average (.326), runs (118), hits (213), doubles (54), total bases (322) and extra-base hits (73) by a second baseman, all achieved during his 2008 MVP season. Pedroia joins Yastrzemski and Mookie Betts as the only Red Sox to ever hit 100 home runs and 100 stolen bases.
In addition to his four Gold Glove Awards, Pedroia was named a finalist at second base in 2012, 2016 and 2017. His .991 field percentage at second base is the highest in AL history; he owns eight of the 12 highest field percentages for one season at second base in Red Sox history, including a franchise-best score of .997 in 2014. Pedroia grabbed 439 consecutive chances without making an error during a period of 2009- 10 and played 114 consecutive faultless games from 2016-17, both Red Sox records at second base. He also holds Red Sox single-season records for most games (160) and starts (159) at second base, both achieved during the club’s 2013 World Series championship season.
Pedroia was the starting second baseman for the Red Sox in all of the club’s 51 postseason games from 2007-17, joining Mark Lemke (Braves, 55) and Robinson Canó (Yankees, 51) as the only players ever to play started with at least 50. consecutive postseason-games at second base for one team. During his 2007 rookie season, Pedroia went 3-for-5 with a homerun and five RBI in Game 7 of the ALCS, as he still holds the rookie record for most RBI’s in an ALCS game. He is one of the only two rookies ever to homer in Game 7 of an ALCS, joined by Randy Arozarena in 2020. Pedroia homered and led from the bottom of the first inning in Game 1 of the 2007 World Series at Fenway Park; he is still the only rookie to ever hit a leadoff homerun in the World Series.
In 2014, Pedroia launched the Pedroia’s Platoon program as a way to invite military members to Fenway Park during homestands, meet them before the games, and provide them with tickets to his seats. He has also been involved in numerous events with the Jimmy Fund, meeting several children as part of the Make-A-Wish program, and regularly participating in events benefiting the Red Sox Foundation.
Pedroia and his wife, Kelli, have three sons, Dylan, Cole and Brooks. They live in Arizona.