After Pedroia suffered a hyperextended thumb in Tuesday's game, the Red Sox placed him on the disabled list. Based on an MRI examination, it was determined that Pedroia sustained an injury to the volar plate of his right thumb.
The setback, Pedroia said, was unrelated to the torn adductor muscle that he suffered back in June. But in order for the issue to properly heal, Pedroia will be immobilized for a brief period of time.
"I'm pretty frustrated by it," Pedroia said. "You work so hard in the offseason to prevent injury and you get a couple of freak accidents, same thumb. It stinks. I'll be fine. I'll produce in a major way this season to help our team, I promise you guys that."
Pedroia estimates that he'll be wearing the protective cast on his thumb for "a couple weeks." Fortunately for the Red Sox second baseman, the medical staff said surgery wouldn't be necessary.
To stay on the safe side, Pedroia plans to get second opinions from Dr. Donald Sheridan –– who performed surgery on his hand in 2007 –– in Arizona and Dr. Thomas Graham in Cleveland.
"This was just a freak thing," Pedroia said. "I dove back for a ball and kind of landed wrong. I didn’t feel it until after the game. It’s not like I knew when it happened. It’s just kind of a freak accident."
Pedroia was especially disappointed by the news, considering the MRI revealed that his torn adductor muscle had completely healed. But before the latest setback, Pedroia believed he was finally regaining his stroke –– on the heels of his solo shot on July 1.
"I was just starting to feel where I was starting to drive the ball, hit the ball in the air to both sides and using my hands," Pedroia said. "That's the part that I have trouble dealing with. I played that month hurt, and to finally get healthy, and dive, and get hurt again. But I'll be fine. It happens for a reason. I'll be back."
With Pedroia shelved, the Red Sox called up Pedro Ciriaco and moved Rich Hill to the 60-day disabled list.
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