How Dustin Pedroia fared in his first year on the Hall of Fame ballot
On Tuesday night, Dustin Pedroia got his first crack at the Baseball Hall of Fame. When the ballots were revealed, the former Red Sox second baseman fell well short of the votes needed to be enshrined in Cooperstown. He didn’t reach the 75 % mark needed, but the California native got 11.9 % of the vote, which will keep him on the ballot until at least next year.
Although Pedroia fell short, he was one of the best players at his position when healthy. He finished his career with a .299 batting average and 1,805 hits in 1,512 games. The Arizona State Product was also a threat on the bases with 138 stolen bases, including four seasons with at least 20. Although his numbers are impressive, he also collected plenty of hardware.Â
His accolades include an AL Rookie of the Year award and an AL MVP award. The former second-round pick was stellar in the field, collecting four Gold Gloves while adding to his highlight reel on a nightly basis. Unfortunately, injuries derailed his career following his last full season in 2016.Â
After appearing in 105 games during the 2017 campaign, he was limited to nine games and 34 plate appearances in his final two seasons. His injuries began after a controversial slide from Manny Machado led to a partial knee replacement. The former Red Sox star would eventually need a full knee replacement.
As Pedroia prepares for another year on the ballot, he will have many in Boston rooting for him. At his peak, he was an extremely tough out at the plate and a player who caught anything hit in his direction. Few players were more impactful to their team or more valuable in the clubhouse.Â
To stay on the ballot, Pedroia will need to get at least five percent of the vote next year. He has a long way to go but boosts an impressive resume that includes four All-Star appearances and two championships.Â