Just as it was bittersweet to watch Dustin Pedroia be inducted into the Red Sox Hall of Fame this summer, it is also bittersweet to see his name on the Cooperstown ballot this week.

Had it not been for the knee injuries highlighted by the infamous Manny Machado incident, Baseball Hall of Fame eligibility might still be a few years away and induction might be much more likely.

Instead, the Red Sox’ longtime second baseman is one of 14 former players to see his name on the ballot for the first time.

The first 12 seasons of Pedroia’s 14-year career were filled with Hall of Fame-worthy accomplishments and accolades. Between his first season in the Majors in ’07 (he played 31 games in ’06) and the end of ’17, he averaged 134 games a year and batted .302 with 1,785 strikeouts. He walked almost as much as he struck out (614), which wasn’t very often (644).

‘Pedey’ won his first World Series ring and the American League Rookie of the Year award in 2007, then won the AL MVP, the Silver Slugger award and the first of his four Gold Glove awards in 2008. That year the Red Sox fell to the Rays in a heartbreaking ALCS, but not before Pedroia hit three home runs in the series. In 2013, he suffered a UCL injury on Opening Day and did not have surgery until November, after the Red Sox completed their third World Series parade of the decade; This was also his fourth and final All-Star season and third Gold Glove win.

Due to knee problems, Pedroia played a total of nine games in his final two seasons in ’18 and ’19. There were surgeries and setbacks that he valiantly tried to overcome. Finally, ‘Laser Show’ called it a day.

His status in the Hall of Fame is interesting. There is little chance of him becoming a candidate on the first ballot, as it is almost certain that Ichiro Suzuki will; he could even repeat the feat of legendary Yankees closer Mariano Rivera, the only unanimous nominee in Hall history. This will eventually either be Billy Wagner’s year or the final disappointment in the BBWAA; The long-time reliever was just 1.2 percent shy of the 75 percent required last year, but this is the last year he was eligible for selection.

Pedroia finished his 14-year career with a .299 batting average, 1,805 strikeouts, and 51.9 Wins Above Replacement (WAR). Seven Hall of Famers have at least 1,400 games played at second base and a batting average of .299 or higher: Nap Lajoie, Eddie Collins, Frankie Frisch, Rogers Hornsby, Cherlie Gehringer, Billy Herman and Roberto Alomar.

Hanley Ramirez is also on this year’s ballot, as is Ian Kinsler. There’s little chance Kinsler will wear a Sox hat on his hypothetical bronze plaque. He spent eight of his 14 MLB seasons with the Rangers, then picked up his second and final Gold Glove and only World Series ring at the trade deadline in addition to the 2018 Red Sox.

Many big names who received more than the required minimum number of votes last year remained on this year’s ballot. 2004 World Series MVP Manny Ramirez and longtime Boston foe Alex Rodriguez are among those whose illustrious careers have been tainted by allegations or suspensions over performance-enhancing drug allegations.

Voting will be held on December 31 and the results will be announced on January 21. The inauguration date is planned as July 27, 2025.

Abreu finished 6th in Rookie of the Year voting

Yankees pitcher Luis Gil beat out several rivals in the American League East for the Rookie of the Year award, including teammate, catcher Austin Wells, who finished third. The Orioles’ Colton Cowser finished second to Gil.

Red Sox outfielder Wilyer Abreu finished sixth in the voting behind A’s hard-throwing reliever Mason Miller and the Guardians’ Cade Smith. Abreu, who won the Gold Glove award in right field earlier this month, received two second-place votes and five third-place votes for a total of 11 points.

Paul Skenes, who debuted on May 11 and became the first rookie to start the All-Star Game since 1995, took home the NL Rookie of the Year award.