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The Cuban Andy Pagés, center fielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers, leads the batting average in all of MLB this Thursday with .413 after accumulating 19 hits in the first 12 games of the 2026 season, matching the best start by a Cuban player in the Major Leagues in over a decade.
According to data from specialized journalist Francys Romero, no player born in Cuba had achieved so many hits at the start of a season since 2014, when Alexei Ramírez reached the same number with the Chicago White Sox.
The 25-year-old from Havana completes his 19 hits in 46 at-bats, with three home runs, 12 RBIs, and an OPS of 1.112, placing him fourth in that category across the entire league.
The historical table of Cubans with the most hits in the first games of the season places Pagés tied with Ramírez (2014), Tito Fuentes (1973), and Cookie Rojas (1973), surpassed only by Tony Oliva, who recorded 21 hits in 1969 and 20 in 1964.
The performance this week also earned him the National League Player of the Week award, after hitting .583 in 24 at-bats with two home runs, two doubles, seven RBIs, and an OPS of 1.532, leading MLB in hits and total bases during that period.
This launch comes as a continuation of a steadily rising trajectory since its debut on April 16, 2024.
In the 2025 season, Pagés recorded .272 batting average, 27 home runs, and 86 runs batted in, becoming the third Cuban with 25 or more home runs and 80 or more RBIs before the age of 25, following Yordan Álvarez and José Canseco.
The Dodgers won the 2025 World Series against the Toronto Blue Jays in seven games, with Pagés as the defensive star in the ninth inning of the decisive game, where he made a crucial catch with the bases loaded and two outs.
With that title, the Cuban became the second player from the Island to win two World Series rings in his first two MLB seasons, an achievement only accomplished by Orlando "El Duque" Hernández between 1998 and 1999.
Another Cuban stands out at the beginning of this season: Yandy Díaz of the Tampa Bay Rays was batting .429 in his first six games with projections of exceeding 200 hits for the season.
Pagés confirmed in January 2026 that he would not participate with Cuba in the World Baseball Classic, prioritizing his preparation for the regular season, a decision that sparked debate due to his offensive and defensive impact.
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