Pedroia Clubs Grand Slam, Quickly Proclaims 'I Knew I Was Back To Normal'
BOSTON (CBS) -- While Dustin Pedroia's confidence is never in question, the second baseman's health was a bit of a red flag heading into 2015 given the two surgeries he's undergone over the last two years.
But Pedroia appears to be going full swing early this spring -- both on the health and confidence front -- and he isn't afraid to let everyone know it.
Pedroia clubbed a grand slam and went 3-for-3 in Boston's Grapefruit League opener Thursday night, quickly letting everyone know he is fully recovered from the thumb and wrist injuries that plagued his last two campaigns.
"I knew I was back to normal in the offseason," Pedroia told reporters after the game, a 9-8 loss to the Minnesota Twins. "Obviously I told you that, but you can only believe it if you see it. So there you go."
"We saw Pedey get to a pitch on the inside part of the plate," Farrell said of Pedroia's blast, which came in the fourth inning and gave Boston an 8-6 lead. "I don't know that we've seen that type of swing in a good amount of time. It's the first game, but more than anything, the ability to pull his hands in on the grand slam that he hit out of the ballpark -- that's a swing that we've all seen in the past from Pedey, but the number of nagging things he's dealt with, it's limited him the past couple of years.''
When asked if we can expect more big swings out of him, Pedroia exuded even more confidence.
"Just watch, man," Pedroia replied. "My job is to play. Your job is to watch."
Aside from his proclamation to reporters, Pedroia said he hasn't been giving much thought about those two injuries.
"I'm just trying -- tomorrow, I'll come out and try to get better. That's all I'm focused on; not worried about anything else," he said. "Everyday I try to do something to help the team, and that's all I'm focused on."
