How Teoscar Hernandez Has Helped Andy Pages Breakout for the Dodgers
Andy Pages had a frustrating start to the 2025 season with the Dodgers.
After a promising rookie season in 2024, Pages was batting just .159 over his first 20 games of the season. His 22 strikeouts in 63 at-bats were dreary, especially with the Dodgers sporting a serious lack of depth in the outfield.
Pages had no choice but to turn things around, and through the help of reigning Home Run Derby champion Teoscar Hernández, he did just that.
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The Los Angeles Times’ Jack Harris reported that Dodgers co-hitting coach Aaron Bates noticed a friendship blossoming between the two outfielders and sought out Hernández to pass down advice and support to Pages.
“As a hitting coach, you can go to a veteran player if you want him to get a message across to a younger guy, if it’s coming off better or might land a little bit better with the veteran player telling him,” Bates said. “So as Andy was coming up to the big leagues, Teo was a big asset to us to get stuff across to Andy. And Andy is super coachable. You can tell him yourself. But Teo can see it from his vantage point.”
This is likely a major reason for Pages’ .248 batting average during his rookie year.
The 24-year-old outfielder spoke on how Hernández has helped him not just through success, but through the hardships of the MLB season as well.
“We’ve always been really close,” Pages said. “We talked through a lot of things. We’ve been talking through a lot of difficult times. A lot of the good times. Obviously, [Hernandez] has a lot of experience in the big leagues, so I utilize him for some of these difficult times. But we’ve had a close relationship since the beginning.”
Amid Pages’ cold streak to start 2025, Hernández spoke on the advice he gave his teammate to turn things around.
“We’re not talking about what he’s doing wrong, or the slump he’s in,” Hernández said. “Just trying to tell him: ‘OK, let’s try this. Or that. Whatever it is for you to feel good with what you’re doing on the field.’”
Pages is now batting .407 in his last 13 games with an OPS of 1.169. He has added four home runs, nine RBIs, and is showing improved patience at the dish with eight strikeouts in those 54 at-bats.
“They certainly have a big brother, little brother relationship,” said manager Dave Roberts. “… But I do think that those guys are continuing to push each other, which is fun to watch.”
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Photo Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
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