Legendary Los Angeles Dodgers’ manager Tommy Lasorda, the oldest living Hall-of-Famer at 91, is widely credited with coining the oft-quoted, colorful fan phrase, “I bleed Dodger blue.” Minus a hematology report, it would be easy to imagine the Dodgers’ slugging outfielder Joc Pederson nicking a blue drop while shaving.

Joc, 26, with a home run in Game 3, is doing his part to help his Dodgers stay afloat in the World Series against the Boston Red Sox this weekend, as they ultimately outlasted in an 18-inning thriller to get on the series board. He has family Dodger ties that, all told, won’t come close to matching the great one’s 69-year association with the team that holds the 2018 National League Championship flag.

But, his newly-born Poppy Jett won’t be draft eligible for a couple decades, so it’s possible the legacy may continue.

Joc Russell Pederson aka “Dizzy” or “King”

Joc was born in the Bay Area city of Palo Alto, 33 miles south of San Francisco. Dad Stu was drafted in the ninth round as a left-handed outfielder by the Dodgers in 1981 but only managed to play one year (1985) with the Blue Crew, accruing just five plate appearances without a hit.

Joc’s brother, Tyger, a second baseman, was chosen by the Dodgers in the 33rd round of the 2013 draft, but is currently out of baseball, retiring after 18 games with LA’s rookie Arizona League affiliate. He’s currently the head coach for the Duluth (MN) Huskies of the Northwest collegiate baseball summer League.

Joc attended Palo Alto High School, starring as a wide receiver, running back, and placekicker in football, scoring a total of 14 touchdowns his junior and senior years.

While taking a turn, also, on the basketball court, his star began to rise on the baseball diamond, as he focused on the latter as both an outfielder and southpaw pitcher in his senior year.

In 111 plate appearances, he caught Dodgers scouts’ attention with an eye-popping .466 average, eight doubles, four triples, and six home runs, while stealing 20 of 22 bases. Pederson actually only pitched one-third of an inning, but he struck the batter out, a fact that probably won’t lead Dodgers’ manager Dave Roberts to enlist Joc for the bullpen… although Game 3 was beckoning for a position player cameo.

Joc Russell, Tarrier

The Dodgers came calling in the 11th round of the 2010 draft, with Joc stair-stepping his way quickly through the Los Angeles system, despite his commitment to attend USC following high school.

A proud Joc played on Team Israel in the 2012 World Baseball Classic, and it might not have happened if not for mom, Shelly, coming to the rescue.

According to the September 25, 2015 Jewish News of Northern California, “It was Shelly, who, in 2012 made a trip to Congregation Beth Shalom, the San Francisco synagogue where her late father, Larry Cahn, had his bar mitzvah, to produce proof of Joc’s Jewish heritage so he could play for Israel in the World Baseball Classic qualifying round that fall. He batted second and played right field for Israel, which failed to advance.”

The 6’1″, 220-pound Pederson made his MLB debut September 1, 2014, but not before putting up Pacific Coast League MVP and Rookie of the Year numbers at the parent team’s Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes.

Pederson hit .303 with 33 home runs, 78 RBIs, and 30 stolen bases in his 121 AAA games.

Predictable Power

Twenty-eight unspectacular 2014 at-bats led him to his first full MLB season, in 2015, where, despite a dismal .210 BA, he slugged 26 home runs, 19 doubles, and drove in 54 runs in just under 600 plate appearances. Pederson earned a spot on the NL All-Star team and even participated in the Home Run Derby.

His power numbers stayed consistent in 2016, with 25 homers coupled with 26 doubles, 68 RBIs, and an improved .246 average, with a career-high .847 OPS.

A concussion abbreviated Joc’s 2017 campaign, but he managed to cobble together a .212 BA with 20 doubles and 11 home runs in his 323 plate appearances for the eventual NL Champs.

The Houston Astros, though, felt the Pederson wrath in the World Series, as Joc hit .333 with three home runs, two doubles, and five RBIs in his 20 PAs, with a 1.344 OPS.

Of course, he returned to the World Series this year, after another “typical” Joc Pederson power year, hitting career highs in batting average (.248) and doubles (27), and ending with an .843 OPS, and a familiar 25 bleacher blasts.

Joc recently teamed up with his older brother Champ, who has Down syndrome, on a project with New Era, creating “Live Like a Champ” hats and shirts with their family motto. “I like the hat,” Champ Pederson told USA Today, with his usual confidence. “To me, it means, be a warrior. I’m a warrior.”

Thirty-one percent of merchandise sales benefit Best Buddies, a charity supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

“He’s always done everything with me,” Joc happily explained in their joint self-penned The Players’ Tribune article. “He’s in the locker room before games, he’s hanging with all the players. Nothing special. Nothing put on. Champ’s just always been there.

“Every person who meets him immediately knows what it means to ‘Live Like a Champ.’ It means you stay positive, even on the tough days. Because let’s be honest, in between the champagne celebrations and the Dodgers games, life isn’t always so easy. To my teammates who’ve met Champ, and to the others who have heard his speeches, you know. You can just feel his sense of life.”

Champ has developed into an accomplished motivational speaker, splitting time with his regular gig as an Apple Store Specialist in Palo Alto. He also threw out the first pitch to Joc before a May 2017 game at Dodger Stadium.

…If Not Now, When?

Joc Pederson knew what his goal was even as far back as 2015, when he put these ambitious words together: “It’s not how you start but how you finish, make a run and win the World Series.”

Spoken like a champ.

Related: Fellow Dodger Slugger Max Muncy a Reclamation Project