by Christian Romo
The most memorable swing Andy Pages took in 2023 came in his first-ever game for Triple-A Oklahoma City on May 16. It was also the last game he played that season.
Pages fished after a 2–2 breaking ball in his fourth plate appearance of the game, swinging through the pitch and immediately grabbing his left shoulder. He underwent season-ending surgery for a torn labrum in his left non-throwing shoulder later that month, ending his season.
He didn’t stay down on himself for very long.
“I felt a little sad in the beginning with how that was going, but I understood that things happen for a reason,” he says. “The only thing I could do was continue working and control what I could.”
Pages, 11 months later, is a Major Leaguer.
The power-hitting outfielder and Dodgers No. 3 prospect, according to MLB.com, was promoted to the big leagues on Tuesday as part of a package of moves.
The Dodgers also recalled right-handed pitcher Kyle Hurt and selected the contract of right-handed pitcher Eduardo Salazar. To make room on the 26-man roster, the Dodgers optioned right-handed pitcher Ricky Vanasco, the day after he made his Major League debut, and left-handed pitcher Nick Ramirez and designated outfielder Taylor Trammell for assignment.
Pages, the 23-year-old Cuban slugger, has been one of the most productive power hitters in the Dodger farm system since his arrival as an international free agent in 2018, finishing tops among Dodger Minor Leaguers with 89 home runs from 2018–23.
Pages got off to a torrid start at OKC this year, with five home runs in 15 games and a .371/.452/.694/1.146 slash line. The multi-positional outfielder has also been praised internally for his impressive defensive skills.
“He can affect the game in many ways,” said Will Rhymes, Dodger vice president of player development. “(He) plays solid defense in right field and center field, he has an 80 (grade) arm and top-of-the-charts power that has been on display since he’s been in our system.”
Pages demonstrated that power on a bigger stage during Spring Training, hitting two home runs and finishing tied for second on the team with nine RBI in seven games. He registered eight hits in 21 Cactus League plate appearances — including four extra-base hits — slashing .471/.571/1.000/1.571.
Pages says his time away from the game last year, while recovering from his injury, gave him a better perspective.
“I had time to watch my teammates and see the game a little bit better from the outside. As they say, you can sometimes see more from the outside than you can inside,” he says. “And I had a little bit of time to think about the things that were coming my way. It motivated me to work a little harder, and right now I feel good.”
During Spring Training, Pages took advantage of the opportunity to play with veteran Major Leaguers. At the time, he looked ahead to possibilities.
“It’s something that’s really exciting for me, because there are a lot of players that have had excellent careers (in the Majors), and I’m able to see how they play, how they work, and how they develop every day,” he said. “I’m seeing how they work so that I can someday accomplish what they’ve already accomplished.”
Now his day has arrived.
Dodgers’ No. 3 prospect Pages arrives to the Majors was originally published in Dodger Insider on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.