Dodgers Call Up Andy Pages, Kyle Hurt in Massive Roster Move Ahead of Tuesday’s Game

The wait is over, Dodgers fans.

After a slow start to the season from the bottom of the order, the Dodgers have officially called up their top outfielding prospect, Andy Pages.

In a corresponding move, outfielder Taylor Trammell was designated for assignment. Trammell is likely to be claimed on waivers, as multiple teams expressed interest in him before he signed with the Dodgers. If he goes unclaimed, Trammell cannot elect free agency in lieu of a minor league assignment.

The Cuban outfielder got off to a torrid start in Triple-A this season, slashing .371/.452/.694 with five home runs, 15 runs batted in and a 1.146 OPS.

Pages’ hot 2024 dates all the way back to spring training, when he slashed .471/.571/1.000 with two home runs and nine RBIs with an OPS of 1.571 in 21 plate appearances.

The Dodgers didn’t have a spot for Pages on the initial Opening Day roster, and when Jason Heyward went down with a back injury, they elected to bring in a left-handed hitter in Taylor Trammell. However, Trammell is 0-for-6 with the Dodgers, and the team desperately needs a bump from the bottom of the order.

So, enter Pages.

Who is Andy Pages?

The Dodgers signed Pages as an international free agent in 2017 out of Cuba. As a 17-year-old, he debuted in Rookie Ball, and was in High-A in 2021 when he was 20.

Last year, Pages finally earned a call-up to Triple-A, but suffered an unfortunate labrum injury after his first game with Oklahoma City.

Pages missed the rest of the 2023 season, and faced an uphill battle to debut in 2024.

He climbed that hill with ease.

Did The Dodgers Trade Andy Pages Once?

Interestingly, Pages was almost traded away to the Los Angeles Angels in 2020. While the Dodgers were working on trading for Mookie Betts from the Boston Red Sox, they were also working on a deal with the Angels that would have sent Pages, right-handed pitcher Ross Stripling and outfielder Joc Pederson to the Angels for utility man Luis Rengifo.

However, Angels owner Arte Moreno didn’t want to wait when there was a hold-up in the Betts deal, so the trade fell through.

The Dodgers will remain forever grateful that it did.

Dodgers Call-Up Kyle Hurt

The Dodgers are also recalling Hurt from Triple-A, which is a huge plus for the bullpen. Hurt is starting the middle game of the Dodgers’ three-game series against the Washington Nationals on Tuesday.

Hurt and right-hander Eduardo Salazar will take the place of right-handers Nick Ramirez and Ricky Vanasco on the Dodgers’ pitching staff. Ramirez and Vanasco were optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Tuesday.

Hurt, 25, is the Dodgers’ No. 9 ranked prospect, per Dodgers Nation’s preseason rankings, and has already made two appearances for the Dodgers this regular season, as he pitched 4 2/3 innings and had a 1.93 ERA.

However, Hurt was optioned at the end of March when the Dodgers brought up right-handed pitcher Nabil Crismatt.

Hurt is finally coming back, though, much to the delight of Dodger fans. All he’s done is pitch well at the MLB level, dating back to 2023 when he made his debut, a two-inning scoreless outing against the San Diego Padres in which he struck out three.

The Dodgers’ bullpen has struggled this year, as they have a combined 4.46 ERA, which is 21st in all of Major League Baseball. Hurt should help that.

Photo Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports