Dodgers’ Andy Pages Looks Good Following Shoulder Surgery
Andy Pages has already been through a lot as a professional.
The Cuban outfielder signed with the Dodgers for $300,000 in March 2018 and established himself as an intriguing power prospect the following season with 19 home runs for Rookie-level Ogden.
Heading into 2020 spring training, Pages was nearly traded to the Angels in a deal connected to the Dodgers’ maneuvering that would land them Mookie Betts. But that deal fell through.
Coming out of the lost pandemic season, Pages hit 31 homers for High-A Great Lakes in 2021 and 26 more for Double-A Tulsa in 2022. He started last season with a .925 OPS at Double-A to earn his first promotion to Triple-A.
But in his first game for Oklahoma City, Pages injured his left shoulder on a swing. Surgery to repair the labrum ended his season.
“My frustration lasted 20 minutes,” Pages said through an interpreter. “Simply, I understood that that was what had to happen. So I focused on taking this time to myself to think about what was going to come this year and prepare for this moment.”
The 23-year-old Pages certainly looked prepared in big league camp. He had eight hits in 17 Cactus League at-bats with a double, triple and two home runs—positive signs that labrum surgery did not affect his power.
“No, that’ll always be there,” he said confidently in Spanish.
Pages’ recovery impressed Dodgers manager Dave Roberts who called him “the biggest standout” of the early weeks of spring training. Los Angeles’ loaded roster forced Pages to Triple-A to begin the season.
“That’s a tough surgery. The lead shoulder (for a righthanded hitter),” Roberts said. “But he’s in great shape. I’ll tell you, talking to our player development guys, he’s one of the most in-tune guys who we have and most prepared.
“He’s going to play in the big leagues for a long time. To see him arrive this year at some point, wouldn’t surprise me.”
LA CONFIDENTIAL
** RHP Nick Frasso had surgery to repair a labrum tear in his pitching shoulder in November – and underwent a “cleanup” procedure on the labrum in his left hip in March. Frasso, 25, was likely to miss the 2024 season following the shoulder surgery. But Dodgers GM Brandon Gomes said Frasso could still see action during the Arizona Fall League.
** Top prospects RHP River Ryan and C Diego Cartaya were each limited by physical issues this spring. Ryan was recovering from shoulder discomfort and given a slow ramp-up to the season. Cartaya had a recurrence of the back pain that has bothered him in the past. But Gomes said the “full expectation” is that Cartaya will be ready to start the minor-league season on time. Cartaya is scheduled to open the season splitting time with another top catching prospect, Dalton Rushing, at Double-A Tulsa.
