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Joc Pederson American Baseball Outfielder

Pederson was born in Palo Alto, California, the son of Shelley (née Kahn) and Stu Pederson. Stu played eight games for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1985 and spent 12 years in Minor League Baseball. Jock’s mother was an athletic trainer in college.

He is Jewish by birth and has played for the Israel national baseball team. Pederson’s Jewish great-grandfather and great-grandfather immigrated to the United States in the 1840s and were charter members of Synagogue Temple Emanuel in San Francisco.

Jock Russell Pederson is an American professional baseball outfielder for the Texas Rangers. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago Cubs, Atlanta Braves, San Francisco Giants, and Arizona Diamondbacks. He is a two-time World Series champion and two-time All-Star. At the international level, Pedersen represents the Israel national baseball team in international competitions.

The son of former MFB player Stu Pederson, Joc was selected by the Dodgers in the 11th round of the 2010 MFB draft out of Palo Alto High School. Because of his Jewish heritage, he played for the Israel national baseball team in the 2013 World Baseball Classic.

He was announced as the Dodgers’ MVP by Baseball America following the 2013 season. In 2014, he was named the Pacific Coast League (PCL) Most Valuable Player after hitting 30 home runs and stealing 30 bases, and he made his major league debut in September.

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