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Latest Dustin Pedroia Hall of Fame Update Is Good News for Red Sox Fans
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- Latest Dustin Pedroia Hall of Fame Update Is Good News for Red Sox Fans
Longtime Boston Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia has shown notable year-over-year progress in his Hall of Fame candidacy, though he is unlikely to be elected as part of the 2026 class.
According to Ryan Thibodaux's Hall of Fame tracker , Pedroia has appeared on 25% of the 80 ballots collected thus far. Of those ballots, 76 had been publicly revealed as of Dec. 29. That represents a notable jump from last year, when Pedroia appeared on 41 of the 333 ballots (12.3%) tracked by Thibodaux. He ultimately received 47 votes, accounting for 11.9% of the 394 total ballots cast.
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Thibodaux estimates that 423 ballots will be cast this year, meaning a candidate must appear on at least 321 ballots (75%) to earn induction. Pedroia needs only two additional votes to ensure he finishes with at least 5%, which would secure him a third year on the ballot. Candidates may remain on the ballot for up to 10 years.
Pedroia appeared on 41 of the 333 ballots (12.3%) collected by Thibodaux in last year's tracker. More than 84% of voters shared their ballots with Thibodaux last year, while 18.7% of ballots were publicly known as of Dec. 29.
What to Know About Dustin Pedroia's Hall of Fame Case
Boston Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia in 2016David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
A 2004 second-round pick out of Arizona State, Pedroia was one of the most accomplished second basemen of his era. Listed at 5-foot-8 and 170 pounds, Pedroia nonetheless made four All-Star teams, won four Gold Gloves, and captured the 2008 American League MVP award.
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The 2007 AL Rookie of the Year, Pedroia hit .302 and averaged 13 home runs, 65 RBIs, 36 doubles, and an .811 OPS over his first 11 full seasons. From 2007 through 2017, he averaged 4.8 bWAR and appeared well on track for the Hall of Fame before persistent left knee issues significantly limited him late in his career.
Pedroia finished with a .299 batting average and 51.8 bWAR. Those totals do not immediately stand out when compared with many Hall of Fame second basemen, as the JAWS (Jaffe WAR Score system) lists the average Hall of Fame second baseman at 69.1 career bWAR.
The Dallas Morning News' Evan Grant shared on Monday, Dec. 29, that Pedroia is among the players included on his seven-man ballot. While Grant acknowledged Pedroia's overall WAR, he noted that the two-time World Series champion finished with a higher career bWAR than fellow Red Sox second baseman Bobby Doerr, who totaled 51.4 bWAR and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1986 via the Veterans Committee.
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Pedroia's progress in just his second year on the ballot remains encouraging. A slow start does not necessarily preclude eventual election. Former Atlanta Braves center fielder Andruw Jones appeared on only 7.3% of ballots in his first year of eligibility in 2018. As of publication, Jones has appeared on 81.3% of tracked ballots and is on pace for induction in his ninth year of eligibility.
The 2026 Hall of Fame induction ceremony is scheduled for July 26. Former San Francisco Giants second baseman Jeff Kent, who was elected via the Contemporary Baseball Era Committee, longtime Fox Sports and ESPN announcer Joe Buck, the recipient of the Ford C. Frick Award, and Cleveland sports writer Paul Hoynes, the BBWAA Career Excellence Award winner, will also be honored.
Related: Giants Insider Sounds Alarm on Barry Bonds' Hall of Fame Future
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Related: Yankees Fans Sound Off on Sunday's Don Mattingly News
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Dec 29, 2025, where it first appeared in the MLB section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
