Always a dependable defender behind home plate, Pedro Pages’ bat is finally becoming an equal partner to his catcher’s mitt.
Pages’ second tour of duty with the Double-A Springfield Cardinals has seen him emerge as one of the team’s offensive leaders. He popped a two-run home run Tuesday night, an inning after throwing out a would-be base stealer.
“I’ve always been a defensive guy first. Even my whole life pretty much, hitting has been streaky,” Pages said. “Being able to put them both together now, and still catch a good game while having good at-bats, it’s coming around and I like where I am right now.”
Pages hit a 413-foot, two-run home run in Tuesday’s 6-1 homestand-opening victory against Northwest Arkansas. He finished 2-for-4 with three RBIs, raising his season average to .284 with six homers and 30 RBIs.
Becoming a consistent hitter
The Cardinals’ sixth-round draft selection in 2019 out of Florida Atlantic was a .250 career minor-league hitter coming into 2023, with 21 home runs. Last season, splitting time between Springfield and Triple-A Memphis, he hit a combined .227 with 10 home runs and 44 RBIs.
“He is more consistent than what we saw last year,” Springfield manager Jose Leger said of Pages’ hitting. “Last year he had a good streak and all of a sudden he got cold and then he wasn’t hitting too well.
“This year he has been able to be a consistent hitter and produce in the middle of the lineup. That is huge for him.”
Pages, 24, said the time at Triple-A last season served him well and he took a strong work ethic into the offseason.
“The thing that benefited me most was being around those older guys, the veteran guys and seeing how they go about their business,” he said. “Nothing really changes about a plan throughout the year, it’s having a plan and sticking with the approach. They were helpful up there. I got to talk to a lot of them and it’s been great from there.”
This season, he’s reaping the rewards of that knowledge, combined with some old-fashioned sweat in the solitude of south Florida batting cages.
“I put a lot of work in this offseason, working on some things with my back knee to get some bat separation,” Pages said. “You just have to keep working, keep staying comfortable in the box and keep battling out there.
He’s hit consistently enough to see a lot of time in the all-important No. 3 slot in the batting order, often reserved for the team’s best hitter. Pages said it doesn’t change his approach, but he clearly enjoys it.
“I like hitting there. As they say, 3, 4, 5 … I like hitting in those spots,” Pages said. “There’s a lot of chances for RBI production there and I always get to hit in the first inning. It’s been fun. No change in approach, just stay with the middle of the field and try to drive the ball.”
Playing to get to the next level
All the while, his defense has been stellar since he began playing organized baseball. He was the 2019 Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year for Florida Atlantic and was a two-time finalist for the Buster Posey National Collegiate Catcher of the Year Award.
Pages has thrown out 28.8% of attempted base-stealers in his professional career.
Add it all up, including a terrific relationship with his pitching staff, and Pages’ grind to make it back to Triple-A or the Big Show is alive. He’s never spent a day of his professional career on the injured list, so he’s clearly durable.
The depth chart is formidable above him, with big-money free agent Willson Contreras and former Springfield catcher Andrew Knizner in St. Louis and Ivan Herrara, St. Louis’ No. 7 prospect according to MLB.com, in Memphis.
“That’s the goal, that’s the plan,” Pages said. “Everyone out here is playing for the same goal, we’re all playing to get to the next level. If it’s Triple-A and then after that the big leagues, I’m not trying to think too much into that. I’m just trying to enjoy my time here, just have fun with it, hit and catch well and everything will take care of itself.”
Springfield Cardinals this week
Tuesday — Springfield 6, Northwest Arkansas 1
Wednesday, 6:35 p.m. — vs. Northwest Arkansas (Woof Wednesday)
Thursday, 7:05 p.m. — vs. Northwest Arkansas (Springfield Cashew Chickens Night, Thirsty Thursday)
Friday, 7:05 p.m. — vs. Northwest Arkansas (Friday Night Fireworks)
Saturday, 6:35 p.m. — vs. Northwest Arkansas (Ryan Helsley bobblehead giveaway)
Sunday, 6:05 p.m. — vs. Northwest Arkansas (Ice Cream Sunday, Kids Run the Bases)
Tickets — Visit the Hammons Field box office or the Springfield Cardinals' website
