Ex-Red Sox Mookie Betts Shares Funny Story About Dustin Pedroia

Showing up to the field early shows hard work, and that’s exactly what Dustin Pedroia did when he was with the Red Sox.

During Mookie Betts‘ podcast with Bleacher Report “On Base,” he had Padres youngster Jackson Merrill on. The Maryland native admitted he was a Boston fan growing up with Pedroia his favorite player.

Merrill told Betts he heard the Red Sox legend used to show up to the field at 12 p.m. ready to put his jersey on. While Betts shut down that theory, he told Merrill about Pedroia’s interesting pregame routine.

“(Pedroia) would get going, he’s got fire in him,” Betts said. “He would get to the field really early, he wouldn’t put his jersey on that early. Right after (batting practice), it’s 5:00 (p.m.), he’s (got his uniform on), ready to go, walking around.”

While baseball games don’t typically start until 7 p.m., Pedroia wanted his uniform on incase MLB officials decided they wanted to start the game early.

While Betts and Merrill joked about the odd pregame routine, Betts also praised Pedroia for the work ethic he had. The former second baseman grabbed many accolades in his MLB career, including being a 2007 Rookie of the Year, AL MVP, four-time All-Star and three-time World Series champion.

“I don’t remember a day where he didn’t have a fire in him and it was amazing to see,” Betts said.