The Cuban gardener Andy Pagés will return to the lineup of the Los Angeles Dodgers this Tuesday, when the team faces the San Diego Padres, as manager Dave Roberts confirmed.
The player from Pinar del Río returns after about a month off, without needing to go through a rehabilitation assignment in the minor leagues, reported Pelota Cubana.
The absence began on August 21, when a sinker thrown at 100.2 mph by Bubba Chandler, the starter for the Pittsburgh Pirates, struck the back of Pagés' left hand and fractured the fifth metacarpal. The hit occurred in the third inning; the Cuban initially remained on the field, but X-rays confirmed the fracture and he was placed on the injured list.
To expedite recovery, Pagés underwent a minor procedure: the insertion of a compression screw in his left hand to promote bone consolidation. Roberts had estimated a recovery time of four to five weeks, and his return occurs exactly within that timeframe.
The moment couldn't be more timely for Los Angeles. The Dodgers, who have already secured the National League West Division title with a record of 96-60, are now looking to secure the best possible seed heading into the playoffs.
Before the injury, the player from Pinar del Río was having his best season in the Major Leagues. His offensive line of .272/.338/.458 with an OPS of .796 is accompanied by 25 doubles, 21 home runs, and 80 runs batted in, figures that establish him as one of the most complete hitters on the team.
The defensive impact of Pagés has also been noteworthy. His 17 defensive runs saved place him as the leader in the National League and second in all of MLB, only behind Ceddanne Rafaela, who has 19.
The 2026 season started spectacularly for the player from Pinar: he led the batting average across all of MLB with marks of .413 and .370 in the early weeks, and on May 7, he had a historic afternoon by hitting three home runs and driving in six runs in a single game against the Houston Astros.
Two days before getting injured, Pagés shone with three hits and was closing in on his personal home run record, which made the interruption of his season even more painful.
With his return, the Dodgers regain one of their most productive outfielders just as the regular season enters its final stretch and the postseason looms on the horizon.
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