BOSTON -- Dustin Pedroia has already taken some steps toward his return from left knee surgery, and now he's ready to take some strides.
The Red Sox's second baseman has been taking batting practice for a month already and recently began taking fielding practice.
On Sunday, manager Alex Cora announced that Pedroia is ready to begin trying to clear the final hurdle in getting back to the lineup -- running the bases.
"He's doing well. He starts running the bases on Tuesday," Cora said.
Pedroia, who had a cartilage restoration procedure on his knee last October, landed on the 10-day disabled list to start the season and could potentially rejoin the club in May.
The 12-year veteran has shown continued progress in batting practice and more recently in the field, which has been enough for him to begin the next stage of the rehabilitation process.
"He took ground balls yesterday and he looked a lot better than when I saw in October," said Cora. "He was moving well, hopping, turning double plays. His batting practice is a lot better. He's driving the ball. Now it's just a matter of, 'Run the bases and we'll see where we go after that.'"
Holding back the ever-ready Red Sox infielder has been no small task for the club's first-year manager, who was once a teammate of Pedroia's, but Cora has benefited from having him around in the early stages of the season, with an excited eye on adding him to the lineup in the near future.
"I can't say much because he reads and listens," Cora joked. "I know it's tough for him right now, just to watch and not be part of it. He's helping out too in the dugout, in the clubhouse. … He's moving well, going side to side, turning double plays and doing everything. Now it's all about running and then we'll go."