The Los Angeles Dodgers, seeking a spark from their outfielders’ bats, called up Andy Pages from Triple-A Oklahoma City on Tuesday.
And with help also needed for the pitching staff, right-hander Kyle Hurt was recalled in advance of Tuesday’s game against the Washington Nationals, while the club purchased the contract of right-hander Eduardo Salazar.
In corresponding moves, right-hander Ricky Vanasco and left-hander Nick Ramirez were optioned, while outfielder Taylor Trammell was designated for assignment.
Pages, who had shoulder surgery last season, was with the Dodgers in spring training. His blistering start to the season to Triple-A — .371 average, five home runs and 15 RBIs — earned him the promotion.
The 23-year-old Cuba native is listed as the No. 3 prospect in the Dodgers’ deep farm system by MLB Pipeline.
In spring training, Pages hit .471 (8-for-17) with two home runs and nine RBIs in seven games.
Hurt, 25, already had two relief outings with the Dodgers earlier this season, delivering a 1.93 ERA in 4 2/3 innings.
Hurt is scheduled to start Tuesday’s bullpen game for Los Angeles, with left-hander Ryan Yarbrough to follow and pick up multiple innings. Hurt could be used for as many as 45 pitches, allowing him to pick up multiple innings at the outset. Salazar, 25, has just eight games of major league experience and could be asked to contribute Tuesday as well.
Pages also is scheduled to start, batting seventh while playing in center field.
Outside of newcomer Teoscar Hernandez (.288, five homers, 17 RBIs), the Dodgers’ outfield has been a disappointment at the plate. Overall, the group is 40-for-205 (.195) with seven homers and 30 RBIs.
Contrast that to the Dodgers as a team, which leads the majors in home runs (25) and RBIs (98) and is hitting .264 — fourth best in the majors. Chris Taylor is especially struggling, starting the season with just one hit in 33 at-bats and one RBI.
Since signing with the Dodgers in October 2017, Pages has a .262 average, a .527 slugging percentage, 94 home runs and 299 RBIs in 416 games in the minors.
