Former Sun Devil Dustin Pedroia named AL MVP
Former Arizona State Baseball star Dustin Pedroia, now with the Boston Red Sox, won the American League's Most Valuable Player award in a vote announced earlier today.
Pedroia received 16 of the 28 first place votes cast, and beat out Minnesota's Justin Morneau and his own teammate Kevin Youkilis.
The former ASU second baseman becomes the just the third former Sun Devil ever to win a Most Valuable Player award in Major League Baseball, joining legends Barry Bonds and Reggie Jackson.
Pedroia batted .326 with 17 home runs and 83 RBI for Boston in 2008. He led the majors with 54 doubles and was tied for the league lead with 213 hits.
The 25-year-old becomes just the eighth A.L. player to win MVP, Gold Glove and Silver Slugger awards in the same season. He is now included with the likes of Alex Rodriguez, Ichiro Suzuki, Ivan Rodriguez, Ken Griffey Jr., Cal Ripken Jr., Don Mattingly and Robin Yount.
Pedroia starred at Arizona State from 2002 to 2004, winning the 2004 Pac-10 Player of the Year award. He was last season's American League Rookie of the Year.
For sound from Pedroia's press conference and more coverage of today's news, tune into The Sports Lounge with Andrew Gruman, Adam Ostrow and Ben Benya tonight at 7PM.
last updated on 08.11.18 at 1:24 PM