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How a Dodgers Rookie Outfielder Stacks Up to Other Rookies

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First of all, unless you have been watching the Los Angeles Dodgers play or the MLB Network lately, you’re probably reading the rookie outfielder’s name wrong. It is pronounced Andy Pah-hayes. Now you won’t sound uninformed when you are talking with the boys.

Andy Pages is the 23-year-old Cuban outfielder who has been lighting up minor league pitching since 2018.  After signing as a free agent with the Dodgers in 2018, Pages went on to hit 94 home runs in 419 minor league games. In 2023 Pages’ batting average and on-base percentage started to creep up, rising to .277 and .425, respectively. Pages has always shown his power but his bat discipline has left something to be desired, striking out 433 times compared to his 228 walks throughout his minor league career.

It appears everything has started to click for the 6-foot 212-pound outfielder from Havana. Pages annihilated pitching while with Triple-A Oklahoma City for the first 15 games of the 2024 season.  In 62 at-bats, Pages already had five home runs and was slashing .371/.452./.694 before being called up and debuting with the Dodgers on April 16.

Dodgers Rookie Outfielder Andy Pages Off to Hot Start

Since getting called up, Pages has been splitting time between center field and right field almost 50/50, with a 1.000 fielding percentage out of 58 total chances. In 72 at-bats, he has gone yard four times already with 12 runs batted in.  The right-hander shows some reverse split tendencies with three of his four home runs coming against right-handed pitching.  Pages is also slashing .333/.380/.622 versus right handed pitchers versus .296/.286/.444 against southpaws. If there is one area for improvement with Pages, it would be his plate discipline.  While it has improved over the years, he is still looking at a 19:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio to start his MLB career.

Where Does Pages Rank Versus Other Rookies in the National League?

For argument’s sake, these comparisons will be against other position players, rather than rookie pitchers. If we were doing that, merely mentioning Shota Imanaga‘s name would be enough to move on. The Dodgers rookie outfielder Pages is slashing .319/.346/.556/.902 with four home runs and 12 runs batted in (RBI) so far in 2024.

  • Michael Busch, 1B, Chicago Cubs: Michael Busch still holds his rookie status besides seeing some action with the Dodgers last season.  So far in 2024, Busch has had almost double the plate appearances of Pages.  Busch has two more home runs than Pages (6) and six more RBI (18).  Five of those six home runs came in five straight games for Busch.  Neither player offers anything as far as stolen bases.  Busch is slashing .254/.311/.475/.785. Give the edge to Pages.
  • Jackson Merrill, CF, San Diego Padres: Merrill has been playing a strong centerfield for the Friars so far this season. Jackson Merrill has played exactly double the amount of games as Pages.  He has four stolen bases to Pages’ zero. Merrill also only has four more RBI and fewer home runs. Merrill has made two errors in center field, but that’s after facing around double the amount of total chances as Pages.  Merrill is slashing .283/.331/.383./.714.
  • Masyn Winn, SS, St. Louis Cardinals: The rookie shortstop is playing well for St. Louis so far this season.  Masyn Winn is more known for his defensive prowess and speed.  Winn doesn’t have much pop, but he can get on base and has shown he can draw a walk. Winn only beats Pages in stolen bases (5) and games played (32).
  • Joey Ortiz, 3B, Milwaukee Brewers: Ortiz has played in 11 more games than Pages, but only has one home run and eight RBI. He has a .386 on-base percentage as well as 14 walks. Ortiz also has three errors in 53 total chances at short.

Not taking anything away from the four mentioned rookies who are all having great seasons.  It is very early in the season and these stats are very small sample sizes and may be a little unfair. As it stands now though; Andy Pages is the best position-playing rookie in the National League.

 

Photo Credit: © Jonathan Hui-USA TODAY Sports

The post How a Dodgers Rookie Outfielder Stacks Up to Other Rookies appeared first on Last Word On Baseball.