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The primary replace for Section 1 of All-Star voting was launched on Monday, and the Dodgers are on their approach to being well-represented on the Nationwide League crew on July 15 in Atlanta.
Shohei Ohtani is the general main vote-getter within the NL, and Will Smith, Freddie Freeman and Teoscar Hernández rank among the many leaders at their positions. Tommy Edman, Max Muncy and Mookie Betts can be finalists if Section 1 voting ended now.
However one in every of their most deserving All-Star candidates is on the skin trying in, as of the primary poll replace. That’s none aside from Andy Pages, who ranked seventh amongst NL outfielders behind Pete Crow-Armstrong, Kyle Tucker, Hernández, Juan Soto, Corbin Carroll and Ronald Acuña Jr.
With no disrespect to Hernández, who’s having a high quality season, Pages needs to be the highest Dodgers outfielder into account to start out the All-Star Sport. Not solely did the 24-year-old make a formidable early season turnaround to turn out to be one in every of Los Angeles’ most precious gamers, however he arguably has been top-of-the-line NL outfielders within the first half.
“It’d be superb. It’d be an important feat for myself,” Pages mentioned just lately by interpreter Juan Dorado. “However clearly … it’s out of my palms. If I get there, it’d be superior.”
Coming into April 15, Pages was hitting .137. A handful of errors within the outfield and on the basepaths did not assist the general image.
However supervisor Dave Roberts made it clear that he wasn’t dropping hope in his younger outfielder. Pages continued to get on a regular basis alternatives, and it wasn’t lengthy earlier than he started to show issues round. He actually took a step ahead when he racked up a mixed 10 hits in a three-game collection towards the Pirates from April 25-27.
Pages entered that collection batting .183 and managed to boost his common to a wholesome .277 by the top of it. From that time, he did not let up.
With a a lot bigger chunk of the season beneath his belt, Pages has proven himself to be a high defensive outfielder within the NL, in addition to a harmful bat in a lineup loaded with expertise.
This is the place Pages ranks amongst his fellow certified NL outfielders:
• Second in batting common (.290), behind TJ Friedl (.294)
• Tied for third in RBIs (50) with Hernández, behind Crow-Armstrong (60) and Wooden (56)
• Fourth in homers (15), behind Carroll, Crow-Armstrong and James Wooden (who all have 20)
• Fourth in slugging share (.509), behind Carroll (.573), Wooden (.564) and Crow-Armstrong (.558)
• Sixth in OPS (.839), behind Wooden (.944), Carroll (.914), Tucker (.898), Crow-Armstrong (.867) and Soto (.845)
Even when Pages is not elected to the NL’s beginning lineup by followers, he ought to have a superb shot at making the roster as a reserve. Section 1 of All-Star voting is open by 9 a.m. PT on Thursday.
In his sophomore season, Pages has established himself as one in every of baseball’s rising stars. He might actually put himself on the map if he makes it to the Midsummer Basic.
“Boy, he is enjoying prefer it proper now,” Roberts mentioned just lately. “That is as much as the followers, however he is enjoying All-Star baseball.”
