Bregman saw Pedroia in college. The newest Red Sox infielder was a 10-year-old bat boy for the University of New Mexico baseball team. Pedroia was playing for Arizona State at New Mexico.

The Boston Red Sox solidified their roster last week by signing former Houston Astros third baseman Alex Bregman to come in and beef up their infield. While the price tag on his three-year, $120 million deal likely helped convince Bregman to sign with the Sox,

FORT MYERS, Fla. — Alex Bregman couldn’t hold back the smile when he was asked who might have had the biggest impact on his decision to sign with the Boston Red Sox. “My favorite player Dustin Pedroia,” Bregman said of the club’s former second baseman and two-time World Series champion.