Pages returns after month away

The Dodgers activated center fielder Andy Pages from the injured list on Tuesday after a fractured left hand sidelined him for a month. He underwent a minor surgical procedure to insert a compression screw to accelerate healing.

Defense over offense right now

With five regular-season games left before the postseason, the Dodgers aren't expecting Pages to immediately produce at the plate. His primary task is solidifying the outfield defense for October.

Trajekt machine aided his return

Because the Triple-A season ended and injured pitchers couldn't throw live batting practice, Pages prepared mainly with machine work and a simulated game before his return. He credited the Trajekt pitching machine as key to his preparation.

“The Trajekt machine has been a part of my daily program. It's been the thing that's helped me.”

Elite defender in center field

Pages ranks in the 94th percentile among qualified defenders with eight outs above average, according to Statcast metrics. His defensive value is immediate and undeniable, especially in close playoff games where run prevention matters most.

Strong season before injury

Before the fracture on August 21, Pages was batting .272 with a .796 OPS and tied with Shohei Ohtani for the team lead with 80 RBIs. Front-hand fractures are difficult for hitters to recover from since the lead hand controls bat path.

Ready to play full games

Manager Dave Roberts said Pages' lower-half conditioning puts him in good shape to play full games right away. Roberts expects his timing against Major League pitching to take a few games to surface.

“Playing a premium position and playing it well is hugely important.”