Andy Pages is starting to move again, and that’s a big step for the Dodgers as they wait on their All-Star center fielder to come back from a fractured left hand.
Pages has been out for about two and a half weeks after taking a 100.2 MPH fastball off the hand in a game Aug. 21.
In a push to get back sooner, he had a compression screw inserted in the hand just days after the injury. According to Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic on Monday, Pages spent the weekend hitting off a tee and said he feels no pain when he swings, including in the injured left hand.
Andy Pages said he’s been hitting off a tee the last two days, starting his swing progression off his broken left hand. He’s pain-free, he said.
- Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) September 7, 2026
That update matters because Pages has been one of the Dodgers’ best players this season. The 2026 All-Star, once the No. 4 prospect in the organization, broke through in his third major league season and delivered at the plate and in the field. Through 128 games, he’s hitting .272/.338/.458 with 21 home runs and 80 RBIs.
He’s also been a force in center field. Pages’ 12 fielding run value this season is better than the nine he posted last year and ranks third among MLB center fielders.
His absence has forced the Dodgers to shuffle the outfield and the infield at the same time. Alek Thomas handled center field first, but after his demotion to Triple-A, Tommy Edman moved over from second base to cover center. That left Alex Freeland at second.
Freeland’s bat has been a problem. The 25-year-old debuted in the majors last season and didn’t stay long, finishing with a 36.1% strikeout rate and a .602 OPS in 97 plate appearances. His defense at second and third base was solid, but the offense never came around.
This year has looked similar. In 78 games, Freeland is batting .223/.308/.301 with three homers and 19 RBIs. His strikeout rate has come down to 28.7%, but the production still hasn’t matched the opportunity.
Since being called up for the September roster expansion, he has one hit and three walks in 14 plate appearances. Once Pages is activated, Edman can slide back to second base, and Freeland’s spot becomes the easiest one to replace.
Freeland has two minor league options left, so the Dodgers will almost certainly use one when Pages is ready to return.
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