In too many cases this year, the Dodgers dealt with injuries to players that lasted far longer than they initially anticipated.
On Tuesday, however, they got one of their most important bats back right on schedule.
The Dodgers have officially activated center fielder Andy Pages, according to MLB’s transactions log, adding him back into their lineup for the final week of the regular season.
Pages had been out one month, after going on the injured list on Aug. 22 with a hand fracture he suffered from a 100 mph hit-by-pitch. His initial timeline of 4-5 weeks proved accurate, thanks in part to a surgical procedure he underwent to accelerate his recovery process.
The question now is whether Pages will be able to recapture his All-Star form offensively following such a significant injury.
Manager Dave Roberts acknowledged that challenge over the week, saying that while he is still “expecting good at-bats” from the third-year slugger, he was still “waiting just like you guys are waiting to see how it looks.”
For many hitters, a broken hand can cause a lack of feel or strength in their swings. The last Dodgers player to endure such an injury was Mookie Betts in 2024, when he went from an MVP candidate beforehand to a below-league-average hitter for not only the rest of that year but 2025, as well.
However, the Dodgers are hopeful in what Pages will be able to provide the rest of the season –– not only with his bat but also his premium glove (and arm) in center field.
This year, Pages leads all MLB outfielders with 13 assists and ranks second among center fielders with 20 defensive runs saved. That alone, Roberts said, is “a big reason why he’s still a valuable player, even coming off the IL with the uncertainty of the offense.”
As for his offense, the manager added: “We’ll still bet on [that, too].”
Pages was in the midst of a career-best season before getting hurt, batting .272 with 21 home runs, 80 RBIs, a .797 OPS and 45 walks (a sharp increase from the 29 he drew in each of his first two big-league campaigns). It was good enough to help him earn a first selection to the Midsummer Classic and a bump up to the No. 2 spot in the Dodgers’ batting order.
The 25-year-old had cooled off in the second half, after finishing May batting .294 with 13 long balls. He also didn’t get a typical recovery process as a hitter during his time on the IL, unable to go on a minor-league rehab assignment (since the minor-league season was ending as he returned to health) or even face pitching in a live batting session.
Instead, he went through simulated games last week in which he alternated between hitting off a machine at Dodger Stadium and taking reps in center field on balls hit by members of the coaching staff.
Still, the Dodgers are confident he will be able to provide enough all-around production in his return to the active roster now.
“Playing a premium position and playing it well,” Roberts said, “is hugely important.”
