The Dodgers are calling up prime outfield prospect Andy Pages, as first reported by Francys Romero (X link). The 23-year-old is already on L.A.’s 40-man roster, in order that they’ll solely must make a corresponding 26-man transfer, although it’s attainable his promotion nonetheless results in a 40-man transfer. Speculatively talking, fellow outfielder Taylor Trammell could possibly be in danger with Pages’ ascension to the large leagues, and Trammell is a latest waiver declare who’s out of minor league choices.
Pages presently ranks as baseball’s No. 94 total prospect at MLB.com and No. 95 total at Baseball America. He garnered further top-100 fanfare heading into the 2023 season however noticed his inventory take a little bit of a success on account of harm troubles; Pages’ 2023 marketing campaign ended when he underwent surgery to restore a torn labrum in his left shoulder in early June.
That harm got here on the heels of Pages’ first promotion to the Triple-A degree. He appeared in only one recreation with the Dodgers’ Oklahoma Metropolis affiliate however had turned in a stout .284/.430/.495 batting line in 142 Double-A plate appearances previous to that transfer up the minor league ladder. The righty-swinging Pages has obliterated Triple-A pitching within the early levels of the 2024 season, tallying 73 plate appearances and recording a .371/.452/.694 slash with 5 homers, three doubles, a triple, two steals, an 11% stroll price and a 17.8% strikeout price.
Pages attracts reward for his uncooked energy — which {couples} properly with a swing and strategy geared for lifting the ball — and plate self-discipline. He can play all three outfield positions, although scouting stories at BA and MLB.com counsel he profiles finest in a nook, the place he has the pace and instincts to be a succesful defender.
The Dodgers’ outfield presently options Teoscar Hernandez in proper, with a mixture of James Outman, Enrique Hernandez, Chris Taylor and the aforementioned Trammell rounding issues out within the different two spots. Jason Heyward is presently on the injured checklist with a decrease again challenge, although when wholesome, he and Hernandez might be anticipated to roam the corners most days. Pages might doubtlessly function a righty-hitting complement to Heyward and/or Outman, although it shouldn’t come as a shock if the Dodgers plan to get him extra common work than the brief aspect of a platoon.
Given the timing of the promotion, Pages can’t accrue a full yr of huge league service time in 2024 — no less than not solely by remaining on the roster. As a result of he was considered a top-100 prospect on a number of retailers, he’d qualify for a full yr of service time if he finishes within the prime two on this yr’s Nationwide League Rookie of the Yr voting. Barring that — and pending future non-obligatory assignments bac to the minors, that are a agency chance — Pages will probably be controllable all over 2030. If he’s within the large leagues to remain, he’ll be a surefire Tremendous Two participant who’s eligible for arbitration 4 occasions, somewhat than the usual three, starting within the 2026-27 offseason.
