Dustin Pedroia ‘Truly Feels Great’ After Latest Thumb Injury, Scheduled To Rejoin Red Sox Soon

BOSTON –– The Red Sox are getting closer to full strength.

Before Monday's game, Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine raved about Dustin Pedroia's performance during recent batting practices. After analyzing the second baseman's swings, Valentine is seeing shades of the old Pedroia.

"He truly feels great," Valentine said. "Watching him hit, it's different right now… different than what it was, except for the first two weeks of the season. It wasn't like he was hurt after that. He just didn't quite feel what he feels right now. He didn't have the timing –– the simple term would be the timing."

Pedroia has been sidelined since July 6, after sustaining a hyperextended right thumb in the series against Oakland. Earlier in the season, Pedroia also suffered a torn adductor muscle in the same thumb –– an injury that required him to miss six games.

Thursday is the first day the Red Sox could activate the three-time All-Star off the disabled list. Based on Pedroia's progression, Valentine believes he'll be ready to rejoin the team in the last game of the White Sox series.

"That's what it looks like," Valentine said. "And talking to him today, that's what it feels like."

Through 74 games this season, Pedroia is hitting .266 with six home runs and 33 RBIs.

Have a question for Didier Morais? Send it to him via Twitter at @DidierMorais or send it here. He will pick a few questions to answer every week for his mailbag.