Second baseman Dustin Pedroia will be activated from the disabled list on Friday, Red Sox manager Alex Cora told reporters in St. Petersburg before the game against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Pedroia, 34, will make his 2018 Red Sox debut Friday or Saturday against the Atlanta Braves at Fenway Park, Cora said.
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The four-time All-Star and 2008 AL MVP had knee surgery in October and has been rehabbing throughout spring training and went 1-for-14 in a five-game stint with the Pawtucket Red Sox, which ended Thursday when he went 0-for-3 against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
Knee problems limited Pedroia to 97 games at second base last season, when he hit. 293.
The Red Sox will have to make a roster move to make room for Pedroia. Cora didn't say what that would be but speculation has centered on former catching prospect Blake Swihart, 23, who is out of minor league options and could be designated for assignment or traded after hitting .133 in 17 games (30 at-bats) this season.
