Pedroia has a severe sprain of his wrist, but tests performed Tuesday morning in Boston showed no fractures or torn ligaments.

That will be his routine for at least the next 10 days. But given the alternatives, that represented good news for the Red Sox and their second baseman.

CHICAGO — Dustin Pedroia walked into the clubhouse at 4 p.m. on Tuesday wearing a large black brace on his left wrist. After changing into shorts and a T-shirt, he went directly to the trainer’s room for treatment.

“It could have been a lot worse. I’m definitely relieved it’s not broken or anything like that,” Pedroia said. “I’ve just got to get my treatment by the staff and try to get back as soon as I can.”


After getting an MRI, Pedroia met with the team’s hand specialist, Dr. Matt Leibman. It was Leibman who performed surgery on a tendon in Pedroia’s left wrist in 2014.

Dr. Donald Sheridan, who repaired a torn ligament in Pedroia’s left thumb after the 2013 season, also reviewed the MRI.

“They’re pretty close on communicating. They’ve had to deal with me a lot. They know my hand pretty good,” Pedroia said.

Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski and manager John Farrell both said they believe Pedroia could return when he is first eligible, which would be June 9.

“I think it’s really the best-case scenario in many ways. It’s unfortunate he went on the disabled list. But we think at the end of the 10-day period he’ll be fine,” Dombrowski said.

Pedroia was not ready to go that far.

“[Doctors] don’t usually try and play God. Whenever it feels good and the swelling is out of there and I can grip a bat, we’ll play,” he said. “I can’t play for 10 days. Hopefully after that period I’m fine . . . I’ve had a lot of hand injuries. I’ll know when I can play.”


Pedroia was injured in the first inning of Monday afternoon’s game when he collided with Chicago first baseman Jose Abreu.

With Pedroia running down the line, Abreu slid into the base rather than flip the ball to pitcher David Holmberg, who was late getting off the mound.

Abreu mistimed his slide and tumbled into Pedroia’s path.

“I couldn’t really do anything. Right as I got there my legs hit him. I kind of just flipped over him,” said Pedroia, who weighs 80 pounds less than Abreu. “Just a weird play. I’ve never seen that before.”

Pedroia stayed in the game for one inning then came out.

“They tried to tape it up. I didn’t even want them to put tape on it. It just wasn’t going to work out,” he said. “My whole body landed on [the wrist]. It’s part of the game, man. You just have to deal with it and move on.”

Pedroia, 33, was in the midst of a strong season. He is hitting .292 with a .749 OPS and grades out as one of the best defensive players at his position based on advanced metrics.

Pedroia is fourth on the team in hits, doubles, walks, and RBIs.

Josh Rutledge started at second base and batted second against the White Sox on Tuesday night. The Red Sox filled Pedroia’s spot on the roster by activating Pablo Sandoval from the disabled list.


“Guys will step up. We’ll continue to go forward, that’s how it always is,” Pedroia said.

Farrell was relieved to learn that Pedroia did not suffer a more serious injury.

“There was genuine concern,” he said. “Any time you talk about the wrist for a position player or a hitter, there’s always that concern. When you see the amount of swelling and discoloration that’s there, the fact that the MRI was clean and the exam was positive, this was the best news we could have gotten.”

Peter Abraham can be reached at peter.abraham@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @peteabe.