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Andy Pages Powers Dodgers on Opening Day With 3-Run Homer, 5% Catch

Targeted pitch-recognition work points to a real breakout.

Overview

  • Pages delivered the Dodgers’ first runs with a three-run, roughly 400-foot homer off Zac Gallen in the fifth inning of an 8-2 win over the Diamondbacks on Thursday at Dodger Stadium.
  • He added a sliding grab that Statcast rated a 5% catch, covering 93 feet in 4.9 seconds to rob Gabriel Moreno of a hit.
  • Manager Dave Roberts named Pages his spring “pick to click,” praised him as a complete player, and said an All-Star bid would not surprise him if this progress continues.
  • Pages sharpened his strike-zone judgment in spring training by using a Trajekt Arc simulator to practice calling balls and strikes on borderline pitches.
  • The 25-year-old went 4-for-51 in last year’s postseason but preserved the World Series in Game 7 with a late catch, and his Opening Day showcase resets expectations for a breakout season.