After failing to take the field during the 2024 World Series, Pages played six of seven games in the Fall Classic last year.
He struggled mightily at the plate, hitting .063 after going 1-for-16. That one hit was a single and he didn’t walk, meaning his OPS was a terrible .125.
Manager Dave Roberts benched Pages for Game 5 of the World Series, although he regained the field for the crucial Games 6 and 7.
However, during that Game 7, Pages made one of the most consistent catches in World Series history, bowling fellow outfielder Kike Hernandez and taking a fly ball against the wall in the bottom of the ninth inning.
That catch tied the game at 4-4 and forced extra innings, in which the Dodgers retained their second straight World Series title.
How does Pages perform in spring training?
Pages is preparing for improvements in 2026.
He decided not to play with Team Cuba in the World Baseball Classic, opting instead to prepare for the Dodgers’ season.
So far, that focus on the Dodgers in spring training appears to be paying off.
As of Friday afternoon, he is 5-for-10 with two doubles and a triple, as well as two runs scored and three RBIs.
It’s a small sample size, but that equates to a .500 batting average and 1.355 OPS.
Will the strong start continue into the regular season?
So what can fans expect from Pages as he enters his third year in the majors?
The hope is that he can continue his strong defensive performances. He ranked in the 97th percentile in outs above average, the 90th percentile in arm value and the 98th percentile in arm strength.
And during last year’s regular season, he performed solidly at the plate, slashing .272/.313/.461 with a .774 OPS. He also hit 27 home runs and drove in 86 RBIs.
Doug McKain of Dodgers Nation said if Pages wants to be successful in 2026, he’ll have to be more patient.
“The biggest key for Pages to take the next step as an established Major League player is improving his plate discipline,” McKain said. “As a rookie, he didn’t draw his first walk until his 76th at-bat, and his patience waned again in his second season. He drew just 20 walks in his final 128 games and posted a 3.9% walk rate over the past five months — fourth-worst among qualified hitters.”
That said, Pages is a solid contributor to the Boys in Blue, McKain said.
“Even with the early career struggles in some areas typical of young players, Pages still delivered impressive production,” he said. “He finished second on the team behind Shohei Ohtani with 27 home runs, was responsible for 4.1 of the Dodgers’ 4.3 total WAR from outfielders, posted an above-average 113 wRC+ and made what Tom Verducci described to me as the greatest catch in World Series history with his game-saving grab in the extra innings of Game 7.”
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