Top 10 Small Athletes: #4 Dustin Pedroia

It seems as if we're in the era of the supersized middle infielder. Just look at the size of guys like Hanley Ramirez, Derek Jeter, Chase Urley, Troy Tulowitzki, and Ian Kinsler. They're all at least 6-feet tall, and all at least 200 pounds.

Then there's Dustin Pedroia. If you believe his listed height -- 5' 9" -- then Pedroia isn't even eligible for our countdown. But anyone who has seen Pedroia knows that he's 5' 6", or 5' 7" tops!

Of course, that lack of size has done nothing to hold him back. All Pedroia has done in three big league seasons is win American League MVP (2008), AL Rookie of the Year (2007), and a World Series ring (2007).

Pedroia is downright gritty on the field. He's nearly impossible to strike out, and he packs some surprising pop in that small frame. His 137 extra-base hits over the past two seasons, is tied for fourth-most in the American League during that span. Defensively, he doesn't have the strongest arm in the majors, but he's always willing to stand in against a take-out slide to turn a double play.

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