For Boston Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia, he has seen his share of highs and lows during his time with the club. In 2007, Pedroia was the American League Rookie of The Year as he helped the Red Sox win the World Series. Pedroia followed this up by becoming the American League MVP in 2008. Pedroia was a member of the Red Sox team in 2011 that collapsed in the final month of the season to miss out on the playoffs. Pedroia was also a part of the Red Sox team last season that lost 93 games for the first time since 1965. Through it all, along with designated hitter David Ortiz, Pedroia has been the most consistent player for the Red Sox since his arrival in 2006 as he is a lifetime .303 hitter. Now with the Red Sox turnaround this year that has found them in first place of the AL East for the majority of the season, Pedroia is on the verge of cashing in.
Pedroia’s representatives and Red Sox officials are in the process of negotiating a deal that will exceed $100 million and it is well deserved for the man who is affectionately known as “The Laser Show”.
The Red Sox used their second round pick of the 2004 Major League Baseball Draft on Pedroia. At 5’8″, 165 lbs., the smaller Pedroia came out of Arizona State University overlooked for his stature, but he carries a big bat. Pedroia has led the Red Sox in hits twice and he currently leads the team this season with 121 hits.
With a contract extension in the works, Pedroia will be setup to play the majority if not all of his MLB career with the Red Sox. With 1,146 career hits Pedroia continues to climb up the Red Sox hit ladder as he will look to join some of the greats that have suited up at Fenway Park which includes Carl Yastrzemski, Ted Williams, Jim Rice, and Dwight Evans. These men spent their entire MLB careers with the Red Sox, but they were never able to accomplish what Pedroia did which was winning the World Series.
Pedroia not only embodies what the Red Sox want to do, but he also relates to the people of Boston as he is a tenacious battler who leaves it all on the baseball diamond. Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington has gotten things turned around in a hurry in Beantown with Pedroia playing a part. Pedroia is a four-time All-Star and he once again represented the Red Sox at last week’s MLB All-Star Game. Pedroia’s .308 batting average is tied for ninth in the AL and he is on pace to score 100 runs for the fourth time in his MLB career. It is safe to say that once Pedroia’s bank account increases when he signs his name on the contract extension with the Red Sox, it will be well deserved.
Source:Baseball-reference.com
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