Former Dodgers OF Joc Pederson Calls Out Astros in Presser With Rangers
Former Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Joc Pederson was introduced as a member of the Texas Rangers on Monday after the two sides finalized a two-year, $37-million contract and completed his physical.
The designated hitter made his intentions clear after joining the American League West and immediately becoming a rival of the Houston Astros.
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Houston’s actions during the 2017 World Series against the Dodgers still don’t sit well with Pederson, and he didn’t hesitate to call them out at the first opportunity.
“They put together a nice little run, and it’s coming to an end,” Pederson said. “And it’s time for us to take over the [AL] West. There’s lots of things that are going in the right direction for the Rangers to be on top of this division.”
Pederson spent the first seven seasons of his career with the Dodgers and has bounced around quite a bit since winning the 2020 World Series. The Rangers mark the fifth team for the left-hander since leaving the Dodgers after the COVID-shortened season.
Fortunately for Pederson and his new team, he is quite familiar with his new home ballpark. The Dodgers played the National League Division Series, NL Championship Series and World Series at Globe Life Field, where Pederson hit .394 (13-for-33) with three homers and eight runs batted in across those 15 games.
Pederson, who will turn 33 in April, posted a .275 batting average with 23 home runs and 64 RBIs across 132 games during his lone season with Arizona this year. Over his career, he holds a .241 average with 209 home runs and 549 RBIs in 1,272 games. His best season came in 2019 with the Dodgers, when he hit 36 home runs and drove in 74 runs.
After departing Los Angeles via free agency, Pederson joined the Chicago Cubs, who later traded him to Atlanta during the 2021 season. A two-time All-Star, he played for the San Francisco Giants in 2022 and 2023 before signing with Arizona last January.
Pederson was selected by the Dodgers in the 11th round of the 2010 draft out of Palo Alto High School in California and he made his debut on Sept. 1, 2014.
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Photo Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
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