Banking and baseball might not seem like the most natural pairing, but Salem Five is making that connection with a new ad campaign starring a cartoonified Red Sox player Dustin Pedroia.

The campaign, created by Salem Five’s advertising agency Connelly Partners, consists of two spots themed "The World According to Dustin Pedroia." In one spot, an animated Pedroia says, "Baseball’s not just my job, it’s my life. I eat, drink and sleep baseball. I breathe baseball. If I ever cried, I’d cry baseballs. But I don’t cry because I’m the laser show, man." A voiceover announcer replies, "We hear you, Dustin. At Salem Five, banking is our baseball."

Pedroia has worked with Salem Five since 2008 and has primarily served as the bank’s spokesperson for its Gold Star Saver financial literacy program, Martha Acworth, Salem Five’s senior vice president and chief marketing officer, said.

Acworth said the new ad campaign was focused on integrating Pedroia’s personal brand with the bank’s brand and the animated medium was easier for both Pedroia and the ad’s creators. 

"It’s something where he would be casually talking in the studio and not have to act," she said. "It’s a lot easier on the player and more flexible for the creators."

Plus, she added, "It has a little bit a family appeal."

The first spot, "Passion," debuted this week, and the next, "110%," will debut next week. The 15- and 30-second spots are airing locally on NESN and Comcast cable. They will also be hosted on YouTube.

But what did Pedroia think of seeing himself animated on screen?

"He thought it was a hoot," Acworth said. "We showed it to him, and he got a good chuckle out of it."