Originally published by DodgerBlue.com
The Los Angeles Dodgers activated Andy Pages from the 10-day injured list and optioned Eliezer Alfonzo to Triple-A Oklahoma City. The move was made during the off day on Monday, but the Dodgers did not officially announce it at the time.
In addition, Roki Sasaki was also activated while Emmet Sheehan was optioned.
The Dodgers first recalled Alfonzo when Dalton Rushing was placed on the IL on Sept. 6. During his second stint with the club, Alfonzo only received one at-bat, which came against the Cincinnati Reds on Sept. 9 when he struck out.
Alfonzo was the third catcher on the roster, which Dodgers manager Dave Roberts explained was to allow the club to more freely use Will Smith and Hunter Feduccia as pinch-hitters when they didn’t start.
The Dodgers also did not need to make a 40-man roster move to call up Alfonzo, which likely played into their decision.
The 26-year-old has appeared in 13 total games this season, making his MLB debut and batting .179/.179/.250 with four RBI and three runs scored in 28 plate appearances. In Oklahoma City, he was hitting .302/.378/.409 in 256 plate appearances.
Andy Pages returns to Dodgers
Pages is back with the Dodgers for the first time in a month after he landed on the IL with a left hand fracture on Aug. 22.
Pages suffered the injury when he was hit by a pitch from Pittsburgh Pirates starter Bubba Chandler. The 26-year-old underwent surgery shortly after to insert a compression screw in his hand to speed up the healing process.
Pages did not go on a rehab assignment before returning, but did workouts at Dodger Stadium, which included hitting on the field, running the bases, and doing outfield drills.
That makes this stretch of six games important for Pages to face live pitching and get as many at-bats as possible to prepare for the postseason. But even with that in mind, the Dodgers also have to be cautious about building him back up and not overworking him after a month of not playing.
“So we have obviously, assuming he gets back on Tuesday, then there’s six in a row, and that seems pretty aggressive,” Roberts explained.
“So I think that we do want to get him as many at-bats as possible, but we have to make sure that his legs are under him, feeling good, so we don’t go backward or get injured in that respect. So it is going to be a balancing act, and just keeping a keen eye on Andy for sure.”
Pages is batting .272/.338/.458 with 25 doubles, 21 home runs, 80 RBI and 72 runs scored this season. He has also been among the top defensive players in MLB.
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