Dustin Pedroia is an American professional baseball player who plays as second baseman for the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB). He is currently the longest-tenured player on the Red Sox roster and the only player from the 2007 World Series team still with the club after David Oritz retired in 2016.
He is an accomplished player with numerous successes lined up in his career path. In his over one decade in Boston, Dustin has received four All-Star nods, four Golden Gloves, the 2007 AL Rookie of the Year award, an American League (AL) Most Valuable Player award, and a single Silver Slugger award. As a baseman, his defense at second base has been rated significantly above average.
Dustin Pedroia Bio (Age)
The award-winning second baseman was born Dustin Luis Pedroia in Woodland, California on the 17th day of August 1983. He is of Swiss-Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish origin.
Dustin graduated from Woodland High School in his hometown. He played both football and basketball in high school although his football career was nipped in the bud owing to an ankle injury. In his senior year, he was chosen as his league’s most valuable player (MVP) after he compiled a .445 batting average.
He attended Arizona State University (ASU) on an athletic scholarship though he relinquished the last two years of his scholarship to help ASU recruit better pitchers. He stayed at the shortstop position for the Arizona State Sun Devils. While in the team, he entrenched his name in the record books following a series of exceptional plays. He started all 185 games, had a career average of .384 and 298 hits in just three years. His 71 career doubles are the fourth-most in the school’s history and his batting career average placed him seventh. He was also named ASU On Deck Circle Most Valuable Player.
During the 2004 MLB draft, Dustin Pedroia was selected by the Red Sox with the 65th overall pick. He was the eighth shortstop drafted and he received a $575,000 signing bonus. He made his professional debut in 2006 winning the AL Rookie of the Year award and was selected to the 2007 Topps Major League Rookie All-Star Team as well. In his rookie season also, he collected five RBI to secure the Red Sox’s spot in the World Series which they eventually won.
The following seasons will see him performing well and clinching more awards. In 2008, he received AL MVP, Gold Glove, and Silver Slugger awards. The year marked his most productive season on the basepaths; he stole 20 bases in 21 attempts, for baserunning worth 4.9 runs above average, and made great contributions to his team. His contribution was dubbed a superstar level of performance and rated 6.5 Wins Above Replacement (WAR) by Fangraphs.
For the baseman, the records can only get better. He hit his 100th career home run and his 300th career double in May 2014 and also won his fourth American League Gold Glove the same year. Even with a series of injuries resulting from a long absence from the field, Dustin is still regarded as one of the best baseball players in MLB history and can be said to have achieved success therein.
How Much is Dustin Pedroia Worth?
After Dustin was drafted by the Red Sox, he signed a six-year contract extension worth $40.5 million, with an additional team option for 2015 worth $11 million in December 2008. Five years later, the contract was further extended by 8 years and is worth $110 million. He is set to be with the team until 2021.
With his record and whopping deals, the four-time All-Star is one of the richest players. He has a net worth of $20 million and a monthly salary of $1 million.
Dustin Pedroia’s Family – Wife, Brother
He was born to Guy and Debbie Pedroia, the twosome who runs a tire shop, Valley Tire, and would work fourteen hours a day. His mother Debbie played tennis at Sacramento City College. His older brother, Brett also played baseball and was a catcher at Shasta College despite breaking his ankle in high school.
Brett was arrested in January 2009 and charged with four counts of molestation against a boy under 14. He was convicted six months later of committing the said sexual act.
The Red Sox second baseman Dustin is not just good with bats and balls but equally excels at home. He is a family man and is married to his college sweetheart, Kelli Hatley. They exchanged their marital vows on November 11, 2009, and now have three sons together; Dylan (born August 18, 2009), Cole (born September 13, 2012), and Brooks (born June 14, 2014).
Kelli is a spokesperson for the Melanoma Foundation of New England. She lets young people in on the negative health effect of using a tanning bed. She was diagnosed with melanoma when she was 18, a consequence of the use of the said bed.
Height and Other Facts
Dustin Pedroia is 5 feet 9 inches (1.75 m) tall. Although relatively short, he has proven that being a good baseman has nothing to do with size nor statistics but everything to do with love for the game and a desire to win, and not just for oneself but for one’s teammates as well.
The baseman contributed to two Red Sox World Series Championships in 2007 and 2013.
He is widely acclaimed as one of the best defensive players with four Fielding Bible Awards and 2013, 2016 Wilson Overall Defensive Player of the Year Award is enough proof.
He is the first Red Sox infielder to win four Gold Gloves.
Dustin underwent knee surgery for a complete cartilage restoration in October 2017 subsequently missing the start of the 2018 season. He was activated on May 26, 2018, but after 3 games, he wound up back on the disabled list with left knee inflammation.
