Dustin Pedroia isn’t ready to add a new title to his résumé.
Pedroia has been more than an All-Star-caliber second baseman of late, as he helped two Boston Red Sox teammates — Mike Napoli and Hanley Ramirez — identify flaws in their offensive approach through video review. But Boston’s newest hitting consultant downplayed his side job Friday.
“I’m not a hitting coach,” Pedroia said with a chuckle before the Red Sox’s game against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park, according to CSNNE.com’s Sean McAdam.
While Pedroia might not supplant Chili Davis as Boston’s hitting coach any time soon, there’s no denying his extra work has paid dividends for the Red Sox. Napoli broke out of a season-long slump and went on a tear during the Red Sox’s most recent homestand following a chat with Pedroia. And Ramirez, who had only one RBI in May entering Thursday, also credited the four-time All-Star with helping him snap an 85-at-bat homerless drought in Boston’s 5-1 win over Texas in the teams’ series opener.
“I try to look at other guys to get better,” Pedroia told McAdam. “I don’t look at it necessarily to find out what they’re doing wrong. I think, ‘Man, maybe if I try that, it will help me drive the ball the other way better or whatever.’
“So when (Ramirez) said (something about his struggles) the last day in Minnesota, I got here (to the park) early because I wanted to see if he’s doing the same thing I do (when I’m struggling). Sure enough, it was and it was an easy fix.”
Pedroia told McAdam he received similar tips during his early days from players such as Kevin Youkilis, Mike Lowell and Alex Cora — infielders he saw the most — and that the advice sometimes worked. Now, the 31-year-old is looking to impart such wisdom on his new teammates in the hopes of bringing out the best in everyone and making the Red Sox a better team.
“I don’t know,” Pedroia shrugged, according to McAdam, when asked whether he’s given consideration to becoming a hitting coach after hanging up the spikes. “I haven’t really thought about it.”
Makes sense. Pedroia has been one of Boston’s most productive players of late. The Red Sox need him on the field as much as they need him in the film room.
Thumbnail photo via Rick Osentoski/USA TODAY Sports Images
