01:00 AM EDT on Friday, July 22, 2005

BY JOE McDONALD
Journal Sports Writer

PAWTUCKET -- Dustin Pedroia is a gritty, hard-nosed player. And, believe it or not, that work ethic has kept him from playing in the majors.

An infield prospect for the Boston Red Sox, the 21-year-old second baseman has climbed quickly up the organizational ladder since the club selected him as its top pick (65th overall) in the 2004 draft. In his first full season as a pro, Pedroia came close to making a trip to the majors until a wrist injury sidelined him.

The injury came at the most inopportune time for both player and organization, as Red Sox second baseman Mark Bellhorn was struggling and eventually was placed on the disabled list with a thumb injury earlier this week. Unfortunately for Pedroia, he was injured on June 25 when he was hit on the wrist while attempting to bunt for a hit, and move a runner into scoring position, in the top of the first inning.

It was that type of determination that possibly postponed his first trip to the majors.

If he was healthy, it's quite possible he would have been given a shot in Boston, instead the Sox acquired second baseman Tony Graffanino from the Kansas City Royals.

Pedroia missed eight games, then attempted to play through the pain before he was sidelined again. Now, his main concern is getting healthy. He will attempt to take batting practice today, but he doesn't want to force it.

"Our team was losing and I wanted to come back and play and that's how I got in this situation," Pedroia said. "I wanted to get back out there and do whatever I could to help the team win. I just rushed it and what is going on up (in Boston) you can't control. But whatever happens, my time will come."

He split time between Augusta and Sarasota last season and performed above and beyond at Double-A Portland to start this year, hitting .324 with eight homers and 40 RBI in 66 games. Handling that level with consistency, he was promoted to Pawtucket on June 22. Despite the injury, he's adjusted well to Triple-A ball.

PawSox manager Ron Johnson talked with the young prospect about getting past that he missed an opportunity to go to the majors. The skipper reminded Pedroia that he's only been playing pro ball for one year; other opportunities will come.

For the first time in a long time, the PawSox are loaded with prospects and Pedroia is near the head of the class. Major league scouts have given him high ratings in each category and he has surprised some with his relentless style.

"The intensity is going to be there everyday with me," said Pedroia. "I'm going to play like it is Game 7 of the World Series. That's how I was brought up and how I was taught to play. That's the way the game should be played. I know [it's a long season] but you have to maintain that intensity if you're going to win a lot of games. That's what this organization wants and that's what I'm all about."

Pedroia runs everything out. He's the first one on the field and the first one off during a game. His father instilled that philosophy in him as a kid.

He has been compared to David Eckstein, the former PawSox infielder and St. Louis Cardinals All-Star. Both leave it all on the field and prepare the way a major league player should. Pedroia, however, has more raw talent than Eckstein, who has won a World Series with the Anaheim Angels.

Johnson compares Pedroia to one of the all-time work horses -- Lenny Dykstra. The former outfielder for the New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies was known in the baseball world as "Nails" for his relentless style of play.

Generously listed at 5-foot-9 and 180-pounds, Pedroia exudes the same type of energy as Eckstein and Dykstra.

Pedroia "has shown me that he's a baseball player," said Johnson. "His appearance, he's not Adonis. He's not a Greek God. But when he gets on a baseball field, you see his instincts, his intensity. You just watch the way he handles himself on the field and I can't wait to get him back. He's fun and you definitely feel a spark, a different energy level when he's on the field.

"He's the total baseball package with great strength," added Johnson. "He's got the right feel for this game and you could see that in him at a very early stage of his career. That's why he has quickly worked his way through the system."

Pedroia's work ethic was quickly realized last season at Fenway Park after the Sox signed him. The organization brought him and his family to Boston and had him take batting practice and ground balls with the team. He impressed the Boston players and management realized it had made a good choice.

"He's a scrappy, hard-nosed guy," said Johnson. "He gets after it."

DUSTIN PEDROIA

Position: Second base. Height: 5-foot-8. Weight: 180. Bats: Right. Throws: Right. Born: Aug. 17, 1983. Major-league experience: None.

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB CS BAVG OBP SLG

2004 Augusta-A 12 50 11 20 5 0 1 5 6 3 2 0 .400 .474 .560

2004 Sarasota-A 30 107 23 36 8 3 2 14 13 4 0 2 .336 .417 .523

2004 Scottsdale-Fall 16 54 13 15 2 0 1 7 7 4 1 0 .278 .375 .370

2005 Portland-AA 66 256 39 83 19 2 8 40 34 26 7 3 .324 .409 .508

2005 Pawtucket-AAA 15 61 11 15 4 1 0 6 6 4 1 0 .246 .343 .344