ASU in the Pros: Red Sox INF Dustin Pedroia

Four gold glove awards, two world series championships, the rookie of the year in 2007, a silver slugger and the most valuable player in 2008. Dustin Pedroia is one of Arizona State’s most decorated pro athletes.

With a .301 career average and numerous big league achievements, Pedroia has shone as one of Major League Baseball’s best in the past decade.

The 5-foot-9, 190 pound second baseball has two sons, Cole and Dylan, makes $12.5 million a year and is in the midst of his 11th season where he’s made five playoff appearances — not bad, huh.

With that being said, Pedroia has earned the right to be the face of the Red Sox, or even the face of Boston.

He’s earned it as a 24-year-old here.

Or, here as a 33-year-old veteran.

Well, he took one for the team.

That’s not the only thing Pedroia has been up to this season though.

He also sprained his wrist on May 29 in a 5-4 loss to the Chicago White Sox. On June 4, he was hitting off a tee. On June 6 he is scheduled to take batting practice. And is scheduled to be back on the field by Friday, June 9.

After a .289 April batting average and a .295 average in May, Pedroia has helped lead his team into a dogfight for first place in the American League East division. Stuck behind the Yankees and just above the Oriels in second place, the former Sun Devil seeks his sixth playoff appearance this fall.

Arizona State Statistics

2002: BA: .347, 2B: 13, HR: 1

2003: BA: .404, 2B: 34, HR: 4

2004: BA: .393, 2B: 24, HR: 9