Twenty years ago today, Dustin Pedroia made his major league debut in Anaheim. It was a big moment for Red Sox Nation. The transition from the 2003-2005 Red Sox teams was happening and they were calling up a player who would define the next decade of Boston baseball.
In both the April and June updates to the SoxProspects rankings, Pedroia was the #4 prospect in the system. He was behind legends like Jonathan Papelbon (who would graduate while holding down the closer job), Jon Lester, Craig Hansen,
and Jacoby Ellsbury. Hansen aside, that’s quite the top four guys.
Think of the possible back of the bullpen for 2006…
Pedroia was a second round draft pick in 2004 and made it to the majors just about two year later. As a shortstop. Yes, for a time there was a middle infield logjam with Pedroia, Hanley Ramirez, and Jed Lowrie. No one knew who would shake out at second base and shortstop. Well, Theo probably knew. Mike Lowell and Kevin Youkilis were taking the other two spots because of another trade. That trade was Hanley finding himself on the Marlins in exchange for Josh Beckett, the aforementioned Lowell, and of course, Guillmero Mota.
The rest of the lineup against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim that August night?
Coco Crisp, CF
Mark Loretta, 2B
David Ortiz, DH
Kevin Youkilis, 1B
Wily (not Fitzy) Mo Peña, LF
Mike Lowell 3B
Doug Mirabelli, C
Gabe Kapler, RF
and of course, Dustin Pedroia, SS.
Seeing Mirabelli listed you probably have a good idea who the starting pitcher was. You would be wrong.
This game was started by Kyle Snyder! Before he became the slow-walking pitching coach of the Tampa Bay Rays he was a pitcher for the Red Sox.
Snyder would be relieved by Kason Gabbard and Manny Delcarman.
Pedroia would be pinch hit for by Manny Ramirez. Manny doesn’t usually pinch hit at all, mostly because he’s in the lineup already. But there he was, ready to go.
The Sox would go on to lose that game but Dustin Pedroia would collect his first hit (a single to center field off Joe Saunders) and go on to have a great career. Starting with his Rookie of the Year the very next season. And an MVP. And three World Series rings.
He wasn’t even #15 yet in 2006. But he was a dirt dog.
Pedroia wouldn’t hit his first home run for a few more games – September 9th 2006 – and since the MLB Filmroom has zero Pedroia moments from his #64 days, I’ve taken the liberty of tracking it down.
Classic Don and Jerry reactions.
I’m sure someday he’ll start appearing as a regular in the Legends Box during Sox games and will get a fantastic response each time.
Can you believe it’s been 20 years? Do you have a favorite memory of Pedroia? A game you were at or watched?
