Dustin Pedroia announced in a press conference on Monday afternoon that he has been transferred to the 60 day injured list and his return is indefinite. The two time World Series champion in 2007 and 2013 stated he is unsure if he will play again.
The four time All Star most recently was on a rehab assignment with the Double A Portland Sea Dogs last Friday night. He would remove himself from that game with knee pain. Pedroia stated he would be with the team during a series this week against the New York Yankees, but then will need some time to reflect and be back home before making any bigger decisions on his baseball career. Pedroia was joined in the press conference by manager Alex Cora and GM Dave Dombrowski. The American League MVP in 2008, and Rookie of the Year winner in 2007 has only made 34 plate appearances in nine games in 2018 and 2019 combined for Boston with only three hits. His best season statistically was 2011 when he hit .307 with 21 homers and drove in 91 runs, in a season where it was a career high in homeruns and RBI.
In other Red Sox news on Monday it was learned that former first baseman Bill Buckner passed away at his home from Lewy Body Dementia, he was only 69.
Buckner spent from 1984-1987 in Boston with the Red Sox, before returning to Boston for one final major league season in 1990. He spent 22 years in the league also spending time with the LA Dodgers, Chicago Cubs, and Kansas City Royals. In Chicago Buckner was a batting champion in 1980 and an All Star in 1981. In 2,517 career games Buckner batted .289 with 174 home runs and 1,208 RBI. He amassed 2,715 hits and also played left field and right field in his earlier days in the league. Buckner is also the only player ever to play a 20+ year career and never strike out more than two times in a game.
He led Boston to the 1986 playoffs, and maybe was most famously known when he was a defensive replacement and made an error on a ball hit by Mookie Wilson in the 10th inning in game six of the 1986 World Series against New York that gave the Mets the win. New York would end up winning the series in seven games. Buckner had hit .340 that September with eight homers and 22 RBI to help Boston to the postseason, and also had key single that led to the famous Dave Henderson homer that led Boston to a game six ALCS comeback win over the California Angels in a series the Sox captured in seven games on their way to their first World Series since 1975.
