Boston Red Sox: Three up, three down from the month of May
It pains me to place Dustin Pedroia on this side of the list. It’s not even his fault. Years of incredible efforts and of never giving anything less than 110% has finally caught up to the Laser Show, and the injuries are taking their toll. We found out near the end of May that Pedroia may not ever be able to play again, and is considering retirement. The gritty second baseman has taken an indefinite leave of absence from the team and may have taken the field at Fenway Park for the last time.
If this is the end, we should take the time to acknowledge the career of a true dirt dog. Pedroia never slowed down for a moment and was even known to take grounders from his knees while in a walking boot and recovering from an injury. Doubted for his size, Pedey proved that heart and effort could overcome any obstacle. After winning Rookie of the Year in 2007, Pedroia was named MVP in 2008. He remains one of only four players to win the two awards in consecutive seasons.
Over the course of 13 years in the majors, Pedroia compiled a .299 batting average and 1,805 hits. More impressive than his bat was his glove, which remained excellent even during the worst of his injuries. He is a four-time All-Star and a four-time Gold Glove winner and won a Silver Slugger alongside his MVP Award in 2008. He also won the Heart and Hustle Award in 2012, which is probably the one that describes him best.
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Pedroia may be down right now, but he can walk away from his career, if he indeed chooses to do so, with his head held high. He played the game harder and with more passion than most other players, and he got three World Series rings out of it. He gave the Red Sox every ounce of what he had to give, and he will be missed.