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Dustin Pedroia: 'My best days haven't started'

Kim Klement / USA TODAY Sports

Despite laboring through a difficult season, marred by regression and shortened by injury, Boston Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia remains optimistic about the future.

“I play to win and play for my teammates,” Pedroia wrote in a text message to the Boston Globe's Nick Cafardo. “And believe me when I say this, my best days haven’t started. Just watch.”

Pedroia's struggles were amplified in what proved to be a disastrous year for the Red Sox, who have a 66-87 record thus far and appear destined to finish last in the American League East. Pedroia, incidentally, endured the worst season of his career, but was more irritated by the struggles of the team.

“I hate watching other teams celebrate,” Pedroia wrote. “That’s what I’m pissed off about.”

The 31-year-old posted career-lows in almost every offensive category this season, including batting average (.278), on-base percentage (.337), slugging percentage (.376), home runs (7), and stolen bases (6), before undergoing season-ending hand surgery last week. Teammate David Ross, however, remains confident the four-time All-Star will bounce back in 2015.

"He feeds off people doubting him," Ross said. "He’ll be back like the old Pedroia next year. He’s got a lot of baseball left in him. He just has to get 100 percent with the hand."

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