Andy Pages opened the 2025 season as the Los Angeles Dodgers’ starting center fielder, but the results left a lot to be desired early on in the campaign.
Pages struggled on defense, running the bases and at the plate. But despite that, the Dodgers stuck with him and continued to give the 24-year-old ample playing time.
That appears to have paid off.
Pages has become arguably the best hitter in baseball and was named co-National League Player of the Week for games played from April 21-27.
On Sunday, Pages went 4-for-5 and extended a career-best streak of three games with three hits or more. He additionally tied a career high with four hits and had his most RBI in a single game with four.
His recent turnaround has been linked to recent conversations with Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman and manager Dave Roberts.
“The team has talked to me and told me to relax, just go out there and play,” Pages said through an interpreter.
“Things have been working out.”
As one of the top prospects in the Dodgers organization and hitting well in the Minors, Pages never had to hit near the bottom of the lineup, which caused him to change his approach at the Major League level.
“I just never hit in those spots in my career. Hitting in the bottom of the lineup, I was a little bit more passive and I became extra passive in my approach,” Pages explained.
“That’s not the kind of player I am.”
Now, Pages has instead just focused on baseball and let his talent come through instead of thinking about the lineup or where he’s playing.
“I think it’s definitely helped me mentally, but I’ve kind of stopped focusing on where I’m hitting in the lineup,” Pages said. “Just focusing on doing the things that I can do, and focusing on myself as opposed to where I’m at in the lineup, where I’m playing or things like that.”
Pages is not going to continue to hit at the level he has recently, where he’s posted a .444/.474/.778 line and 250 wRC+ over his last 10 games, but if he can continue to produce at the bottom of the order, it would go a long way in helping the offense out.
Andy Pages gaining confidence
Roberts has been encouraged by the progress Pages has made offensively.
“I like his swing,” Roberts said. “Certainly, the results have been good the last handful of games, seven games, something like that. The swing has gotten a lot shorter.
“I think he’s just really competing, I think the confidence is certainly growing. It’s good to see. He’s starting to get a lot more confident and be more who he is. I think earlier in the season, he was really mechanical, indecisive on swing decisions.
“I think there’s a lot more confidence and conviction in his at-bats now.”
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