Pedroia eyes comeback
Sox second baseman looks to overcome knee injury in 2019
Dustin Pedroia’s goal isn’t merely to come back from his knee injury. He’s done that before. The challenge for the Boston second baseman this time is to return at the right time, to stick around longer than three games, and to help the Red Sox get back to the World Series with his play, instead of by cheering them on from the dugout.
“The human body is on its own program, man,” Pedroia said after working out with the other infielders on Thursday, a day before the defending champions open their exhibition schedule against Northeastern University.
“I’m trying to come back. Whenever it is, it is,” he said. “Obviously, I want to play and get back in there. But I’ve played in a lot of games. I understand the speed of the game and what it takes to play. We want to make sure my knee is OK.”
A four-time All-star and the 2008 AL MVP, Pedroia had surgery on his left knee after the 2017 season and started last year on the disabled list. He came back in May, but played just three games before going back on the DL and spending the rest of the season there.
“My knee couldn’t handle the load,” he said on
Thursday.
“When you do something too soon, your body will say ‘Stop.’ That’s what happened.”
Pedroia was with the team for its World Series run — the third championship of his career — and manager Alex Cora praised him for the leadership he provided from the bench. Pedroia talked about being able to enjoy the Series more than when he was so focused on playing.
But during the offseason he turned his attention back to rehabbing his knee.
Cora said Pedroia wasn’t expected to play in Friday’s exhibition game against Northeastern or in the Grapefruit League opener against the New York Yankees on Saturday.
“We’re taking care of him,” Cora said.
More Red Sox: Reliever Ryan Brasier returned to Florida after having his infected right pinkie toe checked out in Boston. Indians: Agreed to a minor league contract with two-time All-star reliever Tyler Clippard. Phillies: Third baseman Trevor Plouffe has agreed to a minor league contract.
Notes: The spring training season started with a splash. Just not the kind fans hoped for. In the first major league exhibition game of the year, the Seattle Mariners and Oakland Athletics were rained out Thursday. The Mariners roughed up Jerry Blevins and led 5-0 in the middle of the second inning when it was called . ... Former Philadelphia slugger Ryan Howard has joined ESPN as an analyst on “Baseball Tonight.” ... Players’ union head Tony Clark is guarding against drawing any conclusions about the free-agent market based on Manny Machado’s contract, which was officially announced Thursday, and says Adam Wainwright’s recent comments about a possible strike were in line with the level of concern he hears from the pitcher’s colleagues. Clark met with the Angels on Thursday, starting his spring training tour as several top players still look for teams.