Alex Bregman Offers Origin Story Of Fandom For Red Sox Legend

Alex Bregman held a deep admiration for Boston Red Sox legend Dustin Pedroia, long before ever becoming a member of the organization — or big leaguer.

Bregman, who signed a three-year, $120 million deal with the Red Sox this past offseason, instantly garnered comparisons to Pedroia. Boston manager Alex Cora co-signed the parallels drawn between the two, and Bregman further unveiled the little-known impact Pedroia — a three-time World Series champion with the Red Sox — had on the 30-year-old now getting his chance to impact the franchise.

It all began decades ago, during Pedroia’s college career with the Sun Devils.

“I was batboying for the New Mexico Lobos when he was playing for Arizona State,” Bregman recalled, per WEEI’s Rob Bradford. “They were up about 15 runs and he sprinted down the line and the throw was a little bit up the line and he went in headfirst into first base winning by 15 and got up fired up. It was like, ‘I want to play like that, that hard.'”

Pedroia quickly became a staple in Red Sox history, emerging as the 2007 American League Rookie of the Year. The following year in 2008, he was named AL MVP, setting the standard for what managers wanted from each player in the clubhouse: a hard-working professional willing to lay it all on the line, from Opening Day to Game 162. Pedroia’s approach to the game earned him respect in Boston and from baseball fans everywhere, including a then-young Bregman.

Few second basemen in MLB history rival Pedroia’s passion, intensity and lead-by-example demeanor. It’s what helped the Red Sox in 2007 as a rookie, in 2013 as an experienced veteran and in 2018, from afar, while he rehabbed from a left knee injury. Pedroia didn’t receive the send-off he’d hoped for, but the 41-year-old cemented a legacy not many who’ve sported a Red Sox uniform ever have or will.

Bregman’s idolization followed him throughout his nine-year run with the Houston Astros, which included a handful of battles against Pedroia.

“How he goes about it and the confidence he has in himself and his team is infectious,” Bregman said. “I feel like winning teams have that confidence and that togetherness, and that confidence brings on that togetherness. Everybody becoming confident and doing it together. It’s important. I feel like it’s why he was such a great leader. He was not only confident in his abilities but he went out and backed it up every day.”

Pedroia also played a factor in helping the Red Sox land Bregman this offseason. The now-retired father of three took time out of his schedule to reach out to Bregman and pitch Boston as a landing spot in free agency. Pedroia obviously had no say in the negotiation side on behalf of the team, but the vision he pitched to Bregman helped increase the Red Sox’s chances with the Detroit Tigers and Chicago Cubs also in the running.

Those teams also extended offers of their own before Bregman shook hands with Boston in February.

Now, Bregman will fill the long-awaited role of a veteran right-handed hitter while giving the current young core and up-and-coming prospects an example to look up to. It’s worked out swimmingly in spring training thus far, but the ultimate test will begin once Boston takes the field for Opening Day on March 27.