Former ASU Star, MLB MVP Dustin Pedroia retires from baseball

One of Arizona State baseball’s most highly decorated alums announced Monday morning that he is hanging it up, capping off an illustrious MLB career. Dustin Pedroia, who starred in Tempe from 2001-2004, spent his entire professional career with the Boston Red Sox.

The announcement comes following a 2020 season that saw Pedroia miss the entire shortened campaign due to injury. The former MVP hasn’t played in over 100 games since the 2017 season.

Highlighted by a Rookie of the Year (2007), AL MVP and Silver Slugger (2008) and multiple World Series titles, Pedroia’s career will likely culminate in an induction into Cooperstown at some point in the next decade.

The Northern California native was a centerpiece of Boston’s 2007 and 2013 championship teams.

During his time at ASU, Pedroia earned three consecutive First-Team All-Pac-10 awards from 2002-2004. He hit .384, belting nine homers and 24 doubles on his way to a .611 slugging percentage in 2004.

Perhaps his most impressive stat, the 2004 Golden Spikes Award finalist finished his collegiate career with a .502 on base percentage.

ASU reached the NCAA tournament in each of Pedroia’s three seasons, but failed to make it to Omaha until the year after he left for the professional ranks.