Andy Pages has been turning heads in Triple-A Oklahoma City. His thunderous bat led him to make his major league debut on Tuesday night against the Washington Nationals. He was in the Dodgers’ starting lineup, batting seventh and playing center field.
While some prospects have their call-up moment captured on video by their respective teams, Pages admitted he slept through his phone ringing.
“I don’t know what time the first call came, but the first call that I picked up was at midnight,” Pages said in Spanish. “I think they started calling me like at nine o’clock.”
Once he figured out what was going on, he immediately called his mother in Cuba to tell her the exciting news.
“She started waking up everyone that lives in our neighborhood and obviously she did cry,” Pages said. “But I told her to stay calm because we’re finally in the big leagues, which is where she’s always wanted me to be.”
Andy Pages is in the house for his MLB debut with the Dodgers today 🔥 pic.twitter.com/wgy41qwMRr
— Dodgers Nation (@DodgersNation) April 16, 2024
The 23-year-old is less than a year removed from undergoing major shoulder surgery. Manager Dave Roberts knew by watching him compete this spring that he would make his debut this season. Pages went 8 for 17 in seven Cactus League games, hitting two home runs, a triple, a double, and driving in nine runs.
In 73 plate appearances in Triple-A to start this season, Pages has hit .371/452/.694 with five home runs. His offensive production shows that he is fully recovered from surgery and ready to compete at the big league level.
The Dodgers’ lineup needs some help, especially in the outfield. Chris Taylor is struggling to hit .100, Kiké Hernandez dropped below .200, James Outman has twice as many strikeouts (20) as hits (10), and Jason Heyward’s lingering injury has left Roberts with few options.
Pages will either provide a short-term fix or will give the Dodgers a long look into the future of their lineup.
