Here are some quotes from Dustin Pedroia just before he left Dolphin Stadium after suffering a left oblique injury during batting practice prior to Team USA’s World Baseball Classic game against Puerto Rico, Saturday:

Q: What you can tell us about what happened and how serious it is?

A: I was hitting extra yesterday and kind of felt some soreness. Started taking flips today and I kind of felt a shooting pain a little bit. Out hitting coach, Reggie Smith, said, “Hey, that’s it. Go get checked out.” Our trainer obviously called the Red Sox and I’ll get checked out by the doctors there. I think it’s more precautionary than anything. Obviously I’m upset. It’s a couple of days and I’ll be back tomorrow after I get checked out. I’ll continue playing. It’s up to the Red Sox. I don’t really have a say in that matter.

Q:  Have you ever had any sort of oblique thing before?

A: No, nothing like that. I’ve never really had anything like this which is why it’s frustrating. Obviously I train real hard in the off season to get ready and try to prevent something like this from happening. Maybe I tried a little too hard too fast to get this going. I’ll get it checked out tomorrow.

Q: Yesterday was the first time you had any problems with this?

A: Yeah I was a little sore. Me and David Wright were hitting extra. I kind of told him my oblique was sore. Today, I came out, took a swing and I felt a little pain but hopefully its nothing and I’m back tomorrow.

Q: Did you do anything today to test it or did you know coming in today that you weren’t playing.

A: No, I didn’t really think about it. I just went out there and did my routine and did my tee work. I didn’t really feel it there. I really don’t swing that hard off a tee. Then on my flips, I started swinging hard and that’s when it kind of grabbed a little bit. Hopefully its nothing serious.