History of Joc Pederson in Timeline

Joc Pederson is a professional baseball outfielder currently playing for the Texas Rangers in MLB. Previously, he played for the Dodgers, Cubs, Braves, Giants, and Diamondbacks. He is a two-time World Series champion and a two-time All-Star. Pederson also represents the Israel national baseball team in international competitions.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

1907: Great-grandmother Zelda Sugarman Born

In 1907, Joc Pederson's great-grandmother Zelda Sugarman was born in San Francisco.

1925: Tony Lazzeri's 30-30 Season

In 1925, Hall of Famer Tony Lazzeri was one of the few players in the Pacific Coast League to hit 30 home runs and steal 30 bases in the same season, a feat later matched by Joc Pederson.

1927: Lefty O'Doul's 30-30 Season

In 1927, Lefty O'Doul was one of the few players in the Pacific Coast League to hit 30 home runs and steal 30 bases in the same season, a feat later matched by Joc Pederson.

1934: Frank Demaree's 30-30 Season

In 1934, Frank Demaree was the last player in the PCL to hit 30 home runs and steal 30 bases in the same season before Joc Pederson achieved the feat in 2014.

1961: Willie Mays Hit Three Multi-Run Home Runs

On May 24, Joc Pederson became the first Giants player to hit three multi-run home runs in a game since Willie Mays in 1961.

1985: Father's MLB Debut

In 1985, Joc Pederson's father, Stu Pederson, played in eight games for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

April 21, 1992: Joc Pederson Born

On April 21, 1992, Joc Russell Pederson was born. He is an American professional baseball outfielder.

Others born on this day/year

1993: Mike Piazza's Rookie Home Run Record

In 1993, Mike Piazza set the Dodgers' rookie record with 35 home runs, a mark that Joc Pederson approached in 2015.

1995: Last Dodgers Rookie All-Star

In 1995, Hideo Nomo was the last Dodgers rookie to be selected as an All-Star before Joc Pederson in 2015.

1999: Chin-Feng Chen's 30-30 Season

In 1999, Chin-Feng Chen became the second Dodger minor leaguer to hit 30 home runs and steal 30 bases in the same season, a milestone Joc Pederson later achieved in 2014.

2000: Ron Gant's RBI Record

In 2000, Ron Gant tied a record with 26 home runs and 54 RBIs, a mark that Joc Pederson also reached in 2015.

2010: High School Graduation

In 2010, Joc Pederson graduated from Palo Alto High School, where he excelled in both baseball and football.

2010: Drafted by Dodgers

In 2010, Joc Pederson was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 11th round of the MLB draft after graduating from Palo Alto High School.

2010: Signed with the Dodgers

In 2010, Joc Pederson was selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 11th round of the MLB draft and chose to sign with them, receiving a $600,000 signing bonus.

2011: Pioneer League Standout

In 2011, as the youngest player with the Ogden Raptors in the Pioneer League, Joc Pederson excelled with a .353 batting average and led the league in RBIs, OPS percentage, and outfield assists. He earned multiple All-Star selections and was recognized by Baseball America as the Best Hitter for Average in the Dodgers system.

2012: Promotion to Rancho Cucamonga Quakes

In 2012, Joc Pederson was promoted to the High-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, where he continued to excel. The Dodgers selected him as their 2012 "Minor League Player of the Year," and he was named a Dodgers organization All-Star by MILB.com.

2013: Promotion to Double-A and All-Star Selections

In 2013, Joc Pederson was promoted to the Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts, starting as the youngest member of the team. He was selected to play for the United States at the All-Star Futures Game and in the Southern League All-Star Game.

2013: Played for Israel National Baseball Team

In 2013, Joc Pederson, leveraging his Jewish heritage, played for the Israel national baseball team during the World Baseball Classic.

2013: Played for Israel in World Baseball Classic Qualifying Rounds

In 2013, due to his Jewish heritage, Joc Pederson was eligible to play for the Israel national baseball team in the qualifying rounds of the World Baseball Classic, becoming the youngest player on the team. His mother provided documents proving his Jewish heritage.

February 2014: Ranked Among Baseball's Top Prospects

In February 2014, Joc Pederson was recognized as one of baseball's top prospects, ranking 34th by Baseball America.

April 2014: Named Minor League Prospect of the Month

In April 2014, Joc Pederson was named minor league Prospect of the Month by MLBPipeline.com after batting .398 with 6 home runs and 9 steals for the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes.

September 1, 2014: MLB Debut

On September 1, 2014, Joc Pederson was called up to the Majors for the first time, joining the Dodgers' 40-man roster as major league rosters expanded.

2014: Named PCL MVP and MLB Debut

In 2014, Joc Pederson was named the Pacific Coast League (PCL) Most Valuable Player after achieving 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases. That September, he made his major league debut.

2014: PCL Most Valuable Player

In 2014, Joc Pederson was named the Pacific Coast League (PCL) Most Valuable Player, PCL Rookie of the Year, Baseball America's Triple-A Player of the Year and a Triple-A All-Star. He also set Isotopes single-season records for walks and runs scored.

2015: Starting Center Fielder and All-Star Selection

In 2015, Joc Pederson began the season as the Dodgers' starting center fielder and was selected to start for the National League All-Star team.

2015: Regular Season Performance

In 2015, Joc Pederson played in 151 games and hit 26 home runs, the second-most by a Dodger rookie. He also had 92 walks, which was fifth in the National League. He had the lowest batting average among qualified hitters and tied the Dodgers' franchise strikeout record.

2015: Playoff Appearance

In 2015, Joc Pederson reached the playoffs for the first time as the Dodgers faced the New York Mets in the NL Division Series (NLDS).

2015: Ranked as Top Prospect and Opening Day Starter

In 2015, Joc Pederson was ranked among the top baseball prospects, and he was named the Opening Day starting center fielder for the Dodgers.

2015: All-Star Game Selection

In 2015, Joc Pederson was selected to the National League squad in the Major League Baseball All-Star Game and also participated in the Home Run Derby.

2015: Statcast inception in 2015

On April 24, 2022, Joc Pederson hit the longest Giants leadoff home run since Statcast's inception in 2015.

2015: Statcast data tracking begins

Since 2015, when Statcast began tracking data, Joc Pederson's home run against Max Scherzer was the third-hardest-hit home run Scherzer had surrendered.

2015: First Full Season in 2015

Since Joc Pederson's first full season in 2015, through 2021 he ranked 5th among NL outfielders in home runs (130), and 7th in walks (295).

2016: 2016 Season Statistics

In 2016, Joc Pederson appeared in 137 games, achieving a batting average of .246, an on-base percentage of .352, and a slugging percentage of .495. He hit 25 home runs, 25 doubles, and recorded 68 RBIs. Pederson's 25 home runs averaged a distance of 412.1 feet, ranking him 7th in MLB, and he saw 4.18 pitches-per-plate-appearance, ranking him 10th in the NL. He also became the first Dodger to hit 25 home runs in each of his first two seasons, and his average exit velocity on a batted ball of 92.3 mph was in the top 5% of all major leaguers.

2016: 25 Home Runs for Second Consecutive Season

In 2016, Joc Pederson became the first Dodger to hit at least 25 home runs in each of his first two seasons, achieving 25 home runs.

2016: Dodgers' center fielder in 2016

In 2016, Joc Pederson began the season as the Dodgers' center fielder, serving in a platoon role, mainly playing against right-handers. He had multiple home run games and faced a brief stint on the DL due to a sprained AC joint.

2016: 2016 Postseason Performance

In 2016, Joc Pederson reached the playoffs for the second consecutive year as the Dodgers clinched their fourth straight NL West title. He contributed with an RBI in Game 4 of the NLDS against the Nationals after being hit by a pitch and had an RBI double. He also hit a home run in Game 5 against Max Scherzer. Pederson had an RBI single in Game 3 of the NLCS against the Chicago Cubs. Although he had four hits in 21 at bats in the series, the Dodgers lost to the Cubs in six games.

2017: 2017 Season

In 2017, Joc Pederson had a strong start to the season, hitting a grand slam on Opening Day. On May 23, he collided with Yasiel Puig and went on the 7-day concussion disabled list, not returning until June 13. His batting average declined, and on August 19, he was sent to Triple-A, returning in September. He ended the 2017 season with a .212 batting average, 11 home runs, and 35 RBIs.

2017: World Series Appearance with Dodgers

In 2017, Joc Pederson participated in the World Series with the Dodgers, where he hit three home runs. However, the Dodgers lost to the Houston Astros.

2017: 2017 Postseason Performance

In 2017, Joc Pederson was initially left off the Dodgers' playoff roster but was added for the NLCS due to an injury to Corey Seager. He started five of the World Series games. He broke a Dodgers postseason record, achieving extra-base hits in five consecutive games, hitting three home runs. Despite his performance, the Dodgers lost the World Series to the Houston Astros in seven games.

January 2018: Marriage to Kelsey Williams

In January 2018, Joc Pederson married his longtime girlfriend, Kelsey Williams. They live in Studio City, California.

October 2018: Birth of Daughter

In October 2018, during the National League Championship Series between the Dodgers and the Milwaukee Brewers, Joc Pederson and Kelsey Williams' daughter was born.

2018: 2018 Postseason Performance

In 2018, Joc Pederson and the Dodgers won the NL West for the sixth consecutive year. He hit a leadoff home run in Game One of the NLDS against the Braves. The Dodgers won the series in four games. He had three hits in 13 at bats in the NLCS. In Game 3 of the World Series against the Red Sox, he hit a solo home run. However, the Dodgers lost the series in five games.

2018: Second World Series Appearance

In 2018, Joc Pederson played in his second World Series with the Dodgers, hitting a home run in Game 3, but the Dodgers lost to the Boston Red Sox.

2018: 2018 Season Contract and Role

In 2018, Joc Pederson signed a one-year, $2.6 million contract with the Dodgers, avoiding salary arbitration. He spent much of the season in a platoon role in left field and had two-home-run games within a week of each other in June.

2019: 2019 Career Year

According to bleacherreport.com, Joc Pederson enjoyed a career year in 2019. He played in 149 games, hitting .249/.339/.538 with 36 home runs and 74 RBIs. He tied the major league record with six multi-homer games from the leadoff spot.

2019: Career-High in Home Runs

In 2019, Joc Pederson achieved a career-high of 36 home runs.

2019: Inducted into Jewish Sports Hall of Fame of Northern California

In 2019, Joc Pederson was inducted into the Jewish Sports Hall of Fame of Northern California.

2019: 2019 NLDS Performance

In the first game of the 2019 NLDS against the Washington Nationals, Joc Pederson hit the hardest-hit Dodgers home run of the year. He also had two hits and a run scored in Game 5, but the Nationals defeated the Dodgers 7–3, clinching the series victory.

2020: Birth of Son

In 2020, Joc Pederson and Kelsey Williams' son was born a month before the Dodgers' World Series championship victory over the Tampa Bay Rays.

2020: 2020 Season Statistics

In 2020, Joc Pederson batted .190 with seven home runs and 16 RBIs. He ended the year fourth in career at-bats-per-home-run among all Dodgers. His average exit velocity on batted balls of 93.0 mph was in the top 4% of all major leaguers. He had two hits in five at bats in the second round of the playoffs.

2020: World Series Win with the Dodgers

In 2020, Joc Pederson had four hits in 10 at-bats in the World Series, contributing to the Dodgers winning the championship.

2020: Inducted into Southern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame

In 2020, Joc Pederson was inducted into the Southern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.

February 5, 2021: Signs with Chicago Cubs

On February 5, 2021, Joc Pederson signed a one-year $7 million contract with the Chicago Cubs. He chose #24 as his jersey number due to his usual #31 being retired.

July 15, 2021: Traded to the Atlanta Braves

On July 15, 2021, Joc Pederson was traded to the Atlanta Braves for minor league prospect Bryce Ball. He chose to wear #22 to honor Clayton Kershaw and Jason Heyward.

2021: Won World Series with Atlanta Braves

In 2021, Joc Pederson was traded to the Atlanta Braves and won the World Series with them, making him the ninth player in Major League history to win back-to-back World Series with different teams.

2021: 2021 Post-Season Performance and World Series Win

In the 2021 post-season, Joc Pederson hit two pinch hit home runs as Atlanta won the National League Division Series against the Brewers. In Game 2 of the 2021 National League Championship Series, Pederson hit a two-run home run against Max Scherzer. The Braves won the 2021 World Series, making Pederson the ninth player in Major League history to win consecutive World Series with different teams.

2021: 2021 Regular Season Performance with the Braves

In the 2021 regular season, Joc Pederson played for the Braves, batting .249/.325/.428 with 7 home runs and 22 RBIs in 173 at bats. He played 36 games in right field and 24 games in center field. Against righties, he batted .230/.298/.435, while against lefties, he batted .265/.348/.378 with 21 starts.

2021: Career Statistics through 2021

Through 2021, Joc Pederson had a .501 career slugging percentage against right-handed pitching. Since his first full season in 2015, he ranked 5th among NL outfielders in home runs (130) and 7th in walks (295). He had played 412 games in center field, 229 games in left field, 54 games in right field, and 20 games at first base.

2021: Signature pearl necklace

Throughout the 2021 post-season, Joc Pederson wore a signature pearl necklace, leading to fans wearing replica pearl necklaces to games. Following the Braves' World Series victory in 2021, Pederson's pearl necklace was sent to the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

March 16, 2022: Signed with San Francisco Giants

On March 16, 2022, Joc Pederson signed a one-year, $6 million contract with the San Francisco Giants, returning to the National League West and the Bay Area where he grew up.

April 24, 2022: Longest Giants leadoff home run since Statcast's inception

On April 24, 2022, Joc Pederson hit a 441-foot leadoff home run, the longest Giants leadoff home run since Statcast's inception in 2015. It was his 24th career leadoff home run, and was in his 18th career multi-homer game, against Nationals right-hander Joan Adon.

October 2022: Expecting Third Child

In October 2022, Joc Pederson and his wife announced that they were expecting their third child.

2022: 2022 Batting Statistics

In 2022, Joc Pederson batted .274/.353/.521 with 23 home runs and 70 RBIs. He was in the top 2% of all batters in average exit velocity (93.1 mph) and percentage of balls that were hard hit (51.9%). He batted .388 with runners in scoring position and .378/.452/.784 with two outs and runners in scoring position. He was 10th among active players in career at bats per home run, at 17.3.

2022: 2022 All-Star Game Selection

Joc Pederson started in the outfield for the National League in his return to Dodger Stadium for the 2022 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, marking his second career All-Star selection and start.

2022: Rank Among Jewish Baseball Players

Through 2022, Joc Pederson was second among Jewish baseball players in career home run frequency (behind Hank Greenberg), seventh in career home runs (behind Al Rosen), and eighth in career slugging percentage (behind Ron Blomberg).

2023: 2023 Batting Statistics

In 2023, Joc Pederson batted .235/.348/.416 with 59 runs, 15 home runs, 51 RBIs, and 57 walks. He played 79 games at DH, 32 in left field, six in right field, and two at first base. He was fifth in the NL in hard-hit percentage (52.2%), sixth in maximum exit velocity (116.6 mph), and 10th in average exit velocity (92.1 mph).

2023: Played for Israel in 2023 World Baseball Classic

In 2023, Joc Pederson played for Israel in the World Baseball Classic, playing center field under Team Israel manager Ian Kinsler, alongside pitcher Dean Kremer and others.

January 30, 2024: Signed with Arizona Diamondbacks

On January 30, 2024, Joc Pederson signed a one-year, $12.5 million deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks that included a mutual option for 2025.

December 30, 2024: Signed with Texas Rangers

On December 30, 2024, Joc Pederson signed a two-year, $37 million contract with the Texas Rangers.

2024: 2024 Season Performance

In 2024, Joc Pederson batted .275/.393/.515 with 62 runs, 23 home runs, 64 RBIs, 55 walks, and 18 hit by pitch. He played 120 games at DH and pinch-hit in 27 games. Pederson also declined his share of the mutual 2025 option after the season, making him a free agent.