Dustin Pedroia

After undergoing a cleanup procedure on his left knee in October of 2016, Pedroia had surgery on the same knee again a year later to repair cartilage. As expected, he was out until May. What was unexpected was that Pedroia could only make it three games upon his return before renewed soreness in the knee became too much. Pedroia landed back on the DL on June 2 and remained sidelined for the remainder of the campaign. He had another surgery in September to remove scar tissue. It's become a chronic problem. President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said in November that while he's hoping Pedroia will be ready for spring training, there's no certainty whatsoever to the matter. The last time we saw Pedroia over a meaningful sample, he was basically a league-average offensive contributor; good plate skills (10.6 BB%, 10.4 K%) but severely diminished power and speed.

Pedroia was hampered by injuries for the second time in the last three seasons, as he played in just 105 games due to ankle, wrist and knee ailments. If his first-half numbers are any indication, he still has something left in the tank, as he hit .303/.382/.397 while walking more often (11.0 percent walk rate) than he struck out (9.4 percent strikeout rate). The lack of power is a concern, however, as Pedroia has never had fewer extra-base hits in a season than he did in 2017 (26), and he hasn't topped 15 home runs since 2011. The knee injury forced him to play through discomfort down the stretch in September and during the ALDS, and Pedroia opted to undergo surgery on his left knee to repair cartilage in late October. The ensuing recovery is expected to sideline him from game action until at least late May. As a 34-year-old coming back from significant injury, the Red Sox may begin to give him more frequent rest in 2018 with the hope of maximizing his effectiveness.

There were a lot of different things going on with the Red Sox last season: the David Ortiz retirement tour, the Pablo Sandoval spring training sideshow, and the emergence of young studs Xander Bogaerts and Mookie Betts. All this hoopla allowed Pedroia's season to fly under the radar for the most part, although it truly shouldn't have. The franchise second baseman was incredibly productive all year long, producing his highest batting average (.318) and hit total (201) since his MVP season in 2008. He even had a power surge, bashing 15 home runs and 36 doubles en route to raising his slugging percentage to .449, tied for his best mark over the past five seasons. Pedroia certainly doesn't possess the speed he once did, but as long as he stays on the field, it's realistic to expect a batting average around .290 with double-digit home runs and generous helpings of runs and RBI once again in 2017.

Pedroia was limited in 2015 due to a hamstring injury, one from which he attempted to come back too early and caused him to miss more playing time. In total, he spent 73 days on the disabled list and played just 93 games. Injuries are not a foreign concept to Pedroia, who plays through some degree of ailment each season. However, he’s now 32-years-old and those injuries don’t heal as quickly. He eventually returned from the injury in September and smartly limited himself to playing 18 of the final 25 games, a stretch in which he batted .308 with a .866 OPS. When he was healthy, Pedroia looked a bit like the player we saw a few years ago – he hit 12 homers and slugged .441, the highest marks in those categories since 2012. A smarter / wiser Pedroia can be a useful fantasy player at the middle-infield spot. He’ll return as Boston’s starting second baseman and likely No. 2 hitter in the order.

Pedroia suffered through the 2014 season, posting career lows in several major categories and looking like the poster child for Boston's disappointing season. As it turned out, Pedroia was once again playing through injury. In 2013 it was a thumb; in 2014 it was a wrist. He eventually underwent surgery to repair the wrist in September and has progressed through a regular offseason. Another injury for Pedroia highlights the fact that health has become an issue for him, and he often attempts to play through his ailments. The 31-year-old returns as Boston's starting second baseman and likely No. 2 hitter. Even while dealing with the aforementioned injuries over the past two seasons, Peroia has been excellent defender at second base, helping to stabilize his value to the Red Sox. While there is reason to believe that he can return to being a .300 hitter, his power is unlikely to come back to its peak levels.

Pedroia is Boston's unquestioned leader. David Ortiz may be the face of the franchise, but Pedroia is its heart. He suffered a ulnar collateral ligament tear in his left thumb on Opening Day and played 176 regular-season and postseason games with the injury. He led the league in plate appearances and ranked third among second basemen in batting average, on-base percentage and RBI. He's been remarkably durable, given the abandon with which he plays, and has averaged 141 games played the last seven seasons. Offseason surgery on the thumb was deemed successful and he should be ready to go when spring training rolls around. He primarily hit third in the batting order, but that could change, depending on how the Red Sox choose to cover the loss of Jacoby Ellsbury.

Pedroia played through a thumb injury in 2012 and appears to have survived Boston's rocky season, during a year in which his image took a hit largely for his role in the player's midseason contretemps with manager Bobby Valentine. Things were smoothed over enough after that incident for all to finish out the season, and Pedroia still maintains his popularity among the fan base. His all-out effort, as evidenced by his quicker-than-expected return from injury, is admirable, but it also impacted his reduced production in 2012. If he can stay relatively healthy, just the minor nicks and scrapes, Pedroia is good producer at a middle-infield spot with his steady mix of power and speed.

Long after the Red Sox had righted the season after a poor start, Pedroia was still struggling into early June. He was coming off a 2010 foot injury and he experienced ankle and knee injuries in May, but once he learned he avoided a more serious knee injury in June, Pedroia kicked off a run, hitting .340 over the final four months of the season. All of those injuries are behind him now, and he finished with the first 20-20 season of his career. Pedroia's reputation remains unsullied following Boston's collapse and he seems poised to become the team's next captain.

Pedroia played just 75 games in 2010 after suffering a non-displaced fracture of his left foot in June that eventually required season-ending surgery in September. It's a shame, too, because Pedroia was just getting his stroke back at the time of the injury and was on pace to post career-high power numbers. All reports are that he'll be 100 percent ready to go when spring training rolls around, but only time will tell. The biggest question is obviously how well the foot heals and if there are any lingering issues. Also whether Pedroia, an old-school gamer, will be completely honest about how the foot feels. If healthy, he offers a nice combo of power/speed from the second base position. He's expected to bat second in what should be a pretty stacked Boston order this season.

Pedroia failed to replicate his 2008 MVP season, but his numbers were still elite for a middle infielder. We weren't counting on a repeat of 2008, but Pedroia remained an unlikely multi-category threat with 15 homers, 72 RBI and 20 steals. That makes two straight seasons with 20 stolen bases, though he was caught eight times in 2009. He's been healthy since becoming a full-time starter and returns as Boston's starting second baseman and No. 2 hitter, with expectations of similar numbers.

One of the most unlikely MVP winners you'll ever see, Pedroia earned every vote. He increased his numbers in several categories while flirting with the batting lead. He's a free swinger who has developed some pop (17 homers) and led the AL in doubles (54) and runs scored (118) while tying Ichiro for the league lead in hits (213). Along with Kevin Youkilis, it looks like the work Pedroria put in at the Athletes Performance Institute worked for him. He probably maxed out in 2008, but he'll continue to be a multi-category producer and starting second baseman.

Pedroia burst onto the scene in his rookie year and immediately asserted himself as one of the league's better second basemen. While Pedroia doesn't possess the power of a Chase Utley or a Dan Uggla (only 8 HR and 50 RBI), few second basemen possess Pedroia's ability to hit for average or get on base - his .317 average was second among AL second basemen and his .823 OPS ranked third. Moreover, Pedroia rarely strikes out, with only 46 Ks in 520 at-bats. With rookie year jitters behind him (his .182 April 2007 average will probably not be replicated any time soon), we expect Pedroia, now in complete possession of the Red Sox second base job, to continue his stellar play.

Pedroia's long-awaited Boston debut finally came in 2006, but with less-than-expected results. He was overmatched right away and never hit higher than .205 at any point in the season, finishing .191/.258/.303 in 89 at-bats. It's too early to dismiss him as a product of hype, but clearly we have to adjust our expectations. The second base job is there for the taking, mostly because the Red Sox can save money at the position if Pedroia shows he's ready for everyday duty. He'll probably hit ninth in what should be a potent lineup.

Pedroia, 22, continued to cruise through the organization in 2005 moving from Double-A Portland to Triple-A Pawtucket. An untimely injury prevented him making his Red Sox debut in 2005, but his ability to play second base or shortstop, could land Pedroia in the Opening Day lineup. The Red Sox traded for Mark Loretta, who is expected to start at second base, but shortstop is still open. The Red Sox signed veteran shortstop Alex Gonzalez, and will probably let Pedroia get another half-season at Triple-A, but that big-league debut should happen in 2006.

Pedroia was Boston's first-round pick in 2004 and made two Single-A stops, eventually finishing the year at High-A Sarasota in the Florida State League. Pedroia, who was named the National Defensive Player of the Year in 2003 at Arizona State, held his own with the bat. He knows what to do around the plate and has moderate power for a middle infielder. Pedroia's future with the major league club may be at second base, considering the organization's investment in Edgar Renteria. And he’s still the second-best SS prospect behind Hanley Ramirez. He will likely start the season in Single-A, but Pedroia's on the fast track and could be promoted to Double-A Portland before long.