David Ortiz tops MLB jersey sales
Updated: April 3, 2014, 1:11 PM ET
By Darren Rovell | ESPN.com
Fresh off picking up his World Series MVP award, Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz had the best-selling jersey in MLB.com's store this offseason.
In the list, obtained by ESPN.com on Thursday morning and to be released by baseball later in the day, Ortiz teammate Dustin Pedroia had the second best-selling jersey from Oct. 31, 2013, to March 30, 2014. Compared to the same time period last season, sales of Ortiz's and Pedroia's Majestic jerseys are up 932 percent and 379 percent, respectively.
Even though he played in a career-low 17 games in 2013, MLB.com says Derek Jeter's No. 2 came in No. 3 in jersey sales this offseason. After the New York Yankees shortstop announced his retirement, effective after this season, sales of his jersey picked up to the point where it has since been the best-selling of all.
Thanks to a strong postseason, St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina finished fourth in jersey sales. Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw, last year's National League Cy Young Award winner, rounded out the top five.
10 Best-selling MLB Jerseys
Player Team
David Ortiz Boston Red Sox
Dustin Pedroia Boston Red Sox
Derek Jeter New York Yankees
Yadier Molina St. Louis Cardinals
Clayton Kershaw Los Angeles Dodgers
Andrew McCutchen Pittsburgh Pirates
Buster Posey San Francisco Giants
David Wright New York Mets
Robinson Cano Yankees/Mariners
Manny Machado Baltimore Orioles
Youth continues to be a theme as young players dominate the game and the buzz. Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen and San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey, both 27, were No. 6 and No. 7 on the list. Four players in the top 15 -- Baltimore Orioles third baseman Manny Machado (No. 10), Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig (No. 11), Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper (No. 12) and Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout (No. 14) -- are 23 or younger.
Three players who changed teams in the offseason made the list, as fans clamored to get their new jerseys. Robinson Cano's move from the Yankees to the Seattle Mariners landed his jersey ninth on the list, while Prince Fielder's move from the Detroit Tigers to the Texas Rangers resulted in Fielder making the list at No. 16. Former Red Sox outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury, who signed a seven-year, $153 million deal with the Yankees in the offseason, was No. 20.
