New Ranger Family Finds a Second Home in University Park

Friendly neighbors, including the Kershaws, help Pedersons feel welcome

Soon after MLB player Joc Pederson signed a 2-year contract with the Rangers in December 2024, he and wife, Kelsey, began looking for a new family home in University Park.

Though their home base is still in Scottsdale, Arizona, Park Cities friends helped welcome them to the neighborhood.

“We’re good friends with the Kershaws, and they’ve raved about this community for years,” Kelsey said of Clayton and Ellen Kershaw. “They just love their hometown. When Joc signed with the Rangers, Ellen said, ‘You have to move into our neighborhood.’”

The Kershaws swiftly linked her with real estate professional Kelly Morgan of Allie Beth Allman & Associates and interior designer Stephanie Johns. 

“Everybody’s just been so generous with their contacts, helping us get our feet under us, getting our kids in the local school, connecting us to all of the people we needed to get life here going,” Kelsey said.

The Pedersons worked with Getting It Done Organizing to smooth the move.

“Jenny Dietsch and her team were a huge help,” Kelsey said. “When we walked in here the day before opening day, our clothes were hung up, diapers were in drawers, toys were set out. It a huge blessing to have that piece done, so we can just jump into life here.” 

Joc’s new team has contributed to the winning transition, too.

“The Rangers have been first-class, welcoming, very organized, and super family-oriented,” Kelsey said. “They’re clearly very focused on winning, which is really fun. At this point in his career, I think his primary goal is just to have some really great baseball experiences, meet some more great people, and have a chance to win. That’s his priority, and, obviously, to live where our family can thrive. So, this has checked all those boxes so far, and we’ve met some great people. We knew a couple of the families, just from living in the baseball world — Corey and Mady Seager, Luke and Corinne Jackson. So, there’s a good little overlap, but also a bunch new faces, which is always fun.”

Just a few weeks in, Kelsey knows that the family is just scratching the surface of this Park Cities chapter.

“But, so far, so good,” she said. “I just bounced through Highland Park Village yesterday. It’s beautiful.”

With four young children, aged 6, 4, 2, and 1, the busy couple emphasizes the importance of family life.

“We have four little kids, so being in a neighborhood and in a team with a lot of kids is really fun for us,” Kelsey said. “Just on our street, we’ve met at least four or five families where my kids have already played out front, just running around in the afternoons. That’s pretty much the dream when you have little kids, to just to let them go out front and play and feel so safe.” 

Safe enough to stay?

“This is a satellite home,” she explained. “But we’ve already had some new friends here say that they’re going to convince us to move here full-time.

 “We’ve been blown away,” she said. “Everyone is so generous, welcoming, and friendly.”