Shortly after Tuesday’s 6-3 win over the Tigers, Pedroia said that he suffered a torn adductor muscle in his right thumb. While the swelling goes down, the Red Sox second baseman is attempting to play with a special splint.
“I’ve played with injuries before,” Pedroia said. “It’s just a matter of me being able to swing with a brace on it or something. So I’m going to go get something made, see how it feels and if I can’t do it then I think [I’m out] three to four weeks. Hopefully it’s not that.
“I heal quick so I guess that’s a good thing. So hopefully, I don’t have to go on the DL and I can help the team as fast as I can.”
Earlier Tuesday, he underwent an MRI to determine the severity of the thumb injury, which he suffered three weeks ago. After discussing the results with the Red Sox training staff, Pedroia received a second opinion from Dr. Donald Sheridan.
This isn’t Pedroia’s first experience with hand injuries. In 2007, Sheridan performed surgery on the All-Star’s hamate bone in his left hand. That season, however, Pedroia managed to tolerate the pain for the last two months.
Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington is still evaluating all options, since the team doesn’t want the 28-year-old to risk his long-term health in the immediate future. A stint on the disabled list for Pedroia is still a possibility.
“With a guy that’s as important to the team as he is we’re always hopeful to avoid a DL,” Cherington said. “If there’s a way to manage it safely where it’s in his best interest, the team’s best interest and we can do it in a way that makes sense we’ll try to avoid the DL. But no decision’s been made.
“It’s pretty clear that it can be treated conservatively, it’s just a matter of making sure that before he goes back out there that we’re protecting him as best we can where he’s not putting himself at any undue risk.”
Pedroia’s status all hinges on the splint, one the team is trying to tailor to his suiting. In 48 games this season, the second baseman is batting .295 with five homers and 21 RBIs.
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