Red Sox News: Dustin Pedroia Activated from IL, Tzu-Wei Lin Optioned to Triple-A

The Boston Red Sox have activated second baseman Dustin Pedroia (left knee) from the injured list ahead of Tuesday's home opener against the Toronto Blue Jays.

Pedroia is in Tuesday's lineup, playing second and batting seventh: 

He has not appeared in an MLB game since May 29, 2018.

The four-time All-Star underwent a cartilage restoration procedure on his left knee in October 2017 in hopes of eliminating discomfort. He wound up being limited to just three games last year and did not appear in any of Boston's postseason games as it made a World Series run.

And while he was itching to get back on the field with his teammates, the Red Sox proceeded with caution throughout spring training.

"The human body is on its own program, man," Pedroia said in February, per the Associated Press (h/t ESPN.com). "I'm trying to come back. Whenever it is, it is," he said. "Obviously, I want to play and get back in there. But I've played in a lot of games. I understand the speed of the game and what it takes to play. We want to make sure my knee is OK."

He went 3-for-9 with two walks and one double in three rehab appearances with Single-A Greenville.

"I'm pretty confident that I'm going to be back for good and it's going to be fun," Pedroia told WSPA-TV (h/t Alex Speier of the Boston Globe). "Everything went perfect. I feel great. I'm ready to go."

Pedroia has played in more than 105 games just once in the past four years. In his last full season, he hit .318/.376/.449 with 15 home runs, 36 doubles and 74 RBI in 154 games in 2016.

Now 35 years old, the 2008 American League MVP may not be the player he was during his prime, but he has shown he can swing the bat well as recently as 2017 (.293 average in 105 games). With the Red Sox (3-8) dealing with a World Series hangover, Pedroia could provide a spark to help the team break out of its slump.

Infielder Tzu-Wei Lin has been optioned to Triple-A in a corresponding roster move.