Andy Pages isn't a well-known name among casual Dodger fans.
However, if you're a die-hard supporter of the Boys in Blue, you might recognize him as one of the better prospects within the Los Angeles Dodgers farm system. He turned heads in 2021 with a 31-homer season at Advanced Class-A, then mashed 26 homers at Double-A in 2022.
Originally from Cuba, Pages is known for having a toolsy skill set: a plus arm and a big frame to go with his considerable power.
Ranked as a Top-100 prospect going into each of the last two seasons, a torn shoulder labrum in May 2023 led to season-ending surgery. In the latest prospect rankings from MLB Pipeline, Baseball America and others, Pages was nowhere to be found.
While Pages does seemingly have a bright future, do we expect him to be up with the big club in 2024? According to Juan Toribio of MLB.com, we may want to temper expectations a bit.
Toribio had this to say about the 23-year-old outfielder.
"Pages will likely start the season in either Double-A Tulsa or Triple-A Oklahoma City, but he likely won’t make his debut until at least the 2025 season. He’s a very talented hitter, however, so he could surprise."
The key for Pages is to fully recover from his shoulder surgery. Pages should be ready to go by the time the season begins, but it might take time for his power stroke to recover.
At 23 years of age, Pages is considered a major league prospect still. The Dodgers can still count on his potential as a future starting corner outfielder.
With Teoscar Hernandez signed for 2024, coupled with Chris Taylor and potentially Miguel Vargas, there's no room for Pages on the current outfield depth chart without an injury creating some space.
That said, he could push his way into the mix with a strong start to the minor league season. Injuries in the sport are inevitable, and there's reason to think Pages could get his feet wet in the big leagues this year, perhaps with an eye toward a larger role in 2025 if Hernandez doesn't re-sign.
It will be fascinating to watch Pages and the progression in his game. If he can stay healthy and cut down on some poor habits at the plate, there's no reason to think he can't make the Major Leagues some day.
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