All spring, the Dodgers marveled at how far forward of schedule outfield prospect Andy Pages was in his restoration from shoulder surgical procedure final season.
Simply three weeks into the common season, Pages’ main league debut is arriving ahead of anticipated, too.
Pages is anticipated to be known as up by the Dodgers, a number of folks with data of the scenario who have been unauthorized to talk publicly confirmed Tuesday, after a blistering begin to the yr in triple-A Oklahoma Metropolis that noticed the 23-year-old Cuba native bat .371 with 5 residence runs and 15 RBI in 15 video games.
Whereas Pages was on observe to make his Main League Baseball debut this yr, his call-up comes after simply 16 complete video games in triple-A the previous two seasons — and solely 10 months after he underwent season-ending surgical procedure for a torn labrum final June.
Within the wake of that process, Dodgers officers entered this spring cautioning that Pages would possibly want time to totally regain type.
As an alternative, after going eight for 17 with two residence runs in Cactus League play, the staff’s top-ranked outfield prospect was named by supervisor Dave Roberts final month as one of many membership’s greatest spring coaching surprises.
“I believe, given what he went by way of final yr with the shoulder surgical procedure and the way he carried out this spring, that’s been the most important nice shock,” Roberts mentioned of Pages, who’s the staff’s No. 3 general prospect, in response to MLB Pipeline.
A profession .262 hitter within the minors, Pages continued to escalate his sport with Oklahoma Metropolis.
After injuring his shoulder in his triple-A debut final yr, Pages dominated the extent by way of two weeks this season. In 62 at-bats, he had 23 hits (9 of them for further bases), eight walks and solely 13 strikeouts. His 1.146 on-base-plus-slugging proportion was third-best within the Pacific Coast League. He additionally cut up his time between two positions, enjoying heart and proper in a possible preview of what the Dodgers would possibly ask of him in MLB.
Pages’ arrival comes because the Dodgers have regarded to bolster the underside of their lineup. Coming into Tuesday, the staff’s .187 batting common from its Nos. 6-9 hitters ranked fourth-worst within the majors. Depth within the outfield has grow to be a current concern, too, with Jason Heyward on the injured listing for a again harm and James Outman, Chris Taylor and Kiké Hernández all struggling on the plate.
Between that and Pages’ personal spectacular play this month, the pathway towards an early call-up was instantly paved. Pages is formally on his option to the majors. And the Dodgers are hoping he may help the underside half of their order snap an early-season malaise.
