FORT MYERS, Fla. — Manny Ramirez just made Dustin Pedroia’s day.

The Red Sox slugger presented the second baseman with a Rolex watch for winning the American League Rookie of the Year in 2007. Ramirez handed Pedroia a box and then hit it pretty hard with his bat, denting the box. When Pedroia opened it all he could say was “Damn!”

“He’s the best,” Pedroia said before he walked around the clubhouse showing his teammates the generous gift. Along with the watch Ramirez wrote Pedroia a little note, prompting Pedroia to comment, “Now I finally have your autograph.”

Ramirez told Pedroia in the middle of last season that if he continued to play well and won the Rookie of the Year award he would buy him a watch.

“He’s a great kid with a great heart,” said Ramirez, who also bought Pedroia a few new suits to wear on the road last season. “I love him. He’s got a great personality and I don’t care what he does on the field because, as a person, he’s such a great guy. You can talk to him and he’s always happy and working hard.”

Ramirez also plans on keeping the incentives coming for Pedroia.

“If he hits .300 this year, I’ll give him something else,” Ramirez said. “I want him to keep it going.”

The two, along with teammate Kevin Youkilis, worked out together at the Athletes’ Performance Institute in Arizona during the offseason. Ramirez was there for almost three months and said he loved it there and plans on returning next winter.

When told that it was a nice watch, Ramirez shrugged and said, “Ah, it’s okay.”

jmcdonal@projo.com