Report: Dustin Pedroia Playing With Completely Torn Ligament In Thumb
BOSTON (CBS) -- Dustin Pedroia currently ranks sixth in the American League in batting average, third in on-base percentage and first in games played. And he's done it all with a completely torn tendon in his left thumb.
The Boston Herald's Michael Silverman reported Wednesday that Pedroia suffered a complete tear of the ulnar collateral ligament in his left thumb in the ninth inning on opening day in New York, when he slid headfirst into first base and jammed his thumb on the base. The report said Pedroia was faced with either undergoing surgery and missing eight weeks, or play through the pain and discoloration of his hand without further damaging the tendon.
The injury remained unknown to the public until Wednesday's report, and in typical Pedroia fashion, the 29-year-old wasn't exactly happy with the news going public.
"People shouldn't know if you're 100 percent or not, Pedroia told Silverman. "It is what it is, and it's my responsibility to perform well."
In 53 games this season, Pedroia is batting .332 with a .422 on-base percentage. The left thumb injury could be a factor in his power numbers being down (three home runs, on pace for nine home runs after averaging 16 per season from 2008-12), but Pedroia isn't one to make excuses.
"My mind-set is if I'm nicked up, I have to find other ways to perform," Pedroia told Silverman. "That's the way I think about it. Maybe I'm crazy.''
