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 confirmed by manager Dave Roberts.
The player from Pinar del Río returns after approximately a month away, without the need to go through a rehabilitation assignment in the minor leagues, reported on their social media by Pelota Cubana.
The absence began on August 21, when a 100.2 mph sinker thrown by Bubba Chandler, the pitcher 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 stayed on the field, but the X-rays confirmed the fracture, and he was placed on the injured list.
To accelerate the recovery, Pagés underwent a minor procedure: the insertion of a compression screw in his left hand to aid in bone consolidation. Roberts had estimated a recovery period of four to five weeks, and the return occurred exactly within that timeframe.
The moment could not be more opportune for Los Angeles. The Dodgers, who have already clinched the National League West Division title with a record of 96-60, are now looking to secure the best possible seeding heading into the playoffs.
Before the injury, the player from Pinar 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 RBIs, figures that establish him as one of the most complete hitters on the team.
The defensive impact of Pagés has also been highlighted. His 17 defensive runs saved place him as the leader in the National League and second in all of MLB, just behind Ceddanne Rafaela, who has 19.
The 2026 season started spectacularly for the player from Havana: he led the batting average across all of MLB with marks of .413 and .370 in the first 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 shined with three hits and was nearing his personal home run record, making 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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