The Dodgers have several prospects knocking on the door of the MLB level and one of those names is set to make his debut. Outfielder Andy Pages, a prodigious power hitter, is set to join the Dodgers after a strong start in Oklahoma City.
A Look at Pages
Dodgers outfielder Andy Pages has been on the radar for a significant period. The Cuban-born outfielder first burst onto the scene as a teenager in the short-season circuit, hitting double digits in 2018 and 2019.
Pages nearly wound up with the Angels after the 2019 season amidst the Mookie Betts deal, as he, along with Ross Stripling and Joc Pederson, would have went to Anaheim in a money dump trade for Luis Rengifo. That, however, did not occur.
Since then, Pages has developed into a plus power hitter. The 23-year-old hit 57 combined home runs between 2021-22 before he missed most of 2023 due to shoulder problems. In his brief time in Triple-A this season, Pages belted nine extra-base hits and posted a 1.146 OPS over 15 games.
Pages will strike out a lot. However, arguably his biggest asset is his plus power and ability to lift the baseball. Not to mention, he’ll work counts, as well. In his abbreviated 2023 campaign, Pages walked 26 times over 34 games.
Defensively, Pages has played at all three outfield positions but primarily right field. However, he has spent the bulk of his time recently in center, a position the Dodgers believe he can play everyday.
Andy Pages will make his Dodgers debut on April 16.
Analysis
Pages may be in a position to provide a power boost for the bottom half of the Dodgers lineup, something of an early issue for Los Angeles. Chris Taylor and Gavin Lux both own sub-.400 OPS figures, while James Outman is batting .185/.290/.315.
It’s worth emphasizing that Pages is a right-handed hitter, something of note given the presences of James Outman and Jason Heyward.
Both Heyward and Outman are left-handed hitters, meaning that Pages could be a platoon option for Los Angeles moving forward, even when Heyward eventually returns from the IL. Heyward is currently dealing with a lower back injury.
Outman, on the other hand, has a career OPS of just .642 against left-handed pitching, as opposed to a .836 OPS versus righties.