Dodgers top prospect uncorks wild bat flip in Arizona Fall League

The Los Angeles Dodgers have been strangers to the “Let The Kids Play” movement, largely because any spaces where “the kids” could be allowed to show some personality have been clogged up by generational talents on free agent contracts.

Any Dodgers “kids” who want to flip bats or pump their fists are more than welcome to do so! It’s just difficult to hit a tie-breaking double if Freddie Freeman’s occupying your spot in the lineup.

The next generation of Dodgers offensive stars may be closer to the surface this offseason than ever, though, especially after Justin Turner’s option was declined and his future remains uncertain. Even if Turner’s brought back on a cheaper deal, there’s no guarantee he’s a starter by midsummer, with Miguel Vargas lurking behind him.

The talent doesn’t stop there, either, with Diego Cartaya potentially making inroads towards usurping Will Smith a few years ahead of schedule, and 21-year-old outfielder Andy Pages creating significant noise in the Arizona Fall League, baseball’s brightest postseason prospect showcase.

After posting an .804 OPS in the Double-A Texas League, Pages helped lead his prospect All-Star team — the Glendale Desert Dogs, of course — all the way to the AFL’s title game over the weekend. Unfortunately, he’s probably going to be known for his histrionics during the game, rather than the powerhouse RBI double he struck in the late innings.

Pages, like everybody else in the building, thought he’d just donged. He did not dong.

Dodgers top prospect Andy Pages bat flip deserves love, even for a double

Pages improved upon his regular-season numbers significantly during his 22-game stint in Arizona, triple-slashing .296/.398/.506 with 5 homers, 14 RBI, and a .904 OPS.

Sadly, he really thought he had a sixth homer in his biggest at-bat of the year, and stunted on his opponents accordingly.

Would you like multiple angles? Of course you would. Why wouldn’t you? There’s no other baseball going on right now, you can reserve 20 more seconds for multiple angles.

Sadly, Pages’ Desert Dogs may have felt the karmic blowback from his too-soon celebration swiftly. Though they took a late lead on Pages’ double, and maintained an advantage until the ninth, the Surprise Saguaros ultimately walked this title game off thanks to a well-timed blow from Scott Schreiber of the (shudders) Houston Astros.

If you’re going to lose, you might as well lose to a cactus, right?

Pages will be firmly in the mix for big-league opportunities in 2023, and will likely start the season with Triple-A Oklahoma City if he’s not traded out of the organization.

There, he may be next in line to shine like Vargas and James Outman, who should both find their way onto the Opening Day roster after dominating at the upper levels throughout 2022.

By the time Pages’ bat finally lands, he’ll presumably be OPS-ing .850 in mid-May.

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