Dustin Pedroia

The Red Sox rolled to another post-season berth in 2008, but it wasn’t “the usual suspects” driving Boston. Manny Ramirez was sent to L.A. at the trading deadline, and veteran Curt Schilling missed the entire season due to a shoulder injury. Veterans Mike Lowell, J.D. Drew, David Ortiz, Daisuke Matsuzaka and Josh Beckett all spent time on the shelf, leaving Pedroia to fuel the Red Sox attack. There was no sophomore slump for this 2007 A.L. Rookie of the Year, who positioned himself as a first-tier MVP candidate in just his second season, and helped guide the Sox to the playoffs once again.