The Los Angeles Dodgers are planning to promote Alek Thomas from Triple-A Oklahoma City to fill the roster spot vacated by outfielder Andy Pages, who is sidelined with a broken hand. A source with knowledge of the situation confirmed the move to the California Post.
Pages sustained the injury when he was hit by a 100 mph fastball on Friday and is expected to be out of the lineup for approximately four to five weeks. Thomas, 26, will make his Dodgers debut after being acquired in a trade from the Arizona Diamondbacks earlier this year.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts had indicated that the team would prioritize center field defense when selecting a replacement for Pages. Among players on the 40-man roster, Thomas possesses the most extensive experience at the center field position, having played there for parts of five seasons with the Diamondbacks. He was designated for assignment by Arizona earlier this year before being traded to the Dodgers.
Thomas, a former second-round draft pick, had a productive start to his MLB career in 2022 and 2023, contributing 2.4 wins above replacement primarily through his defense, despite a .230 batting average and .633 OPS. He was part of the Diamondbacks' National League pennant-winning team in 2023. However, his 2024 season was largely derailed by a hamstring injury, and he struggled offensively in 28 games this year, hitting .181, which led to his departure from Arizona in early May.
Following the trade, Thomas worked on his swing at the Dodgers' spring training complex. In Oklahoma City, he has impressed at the plate, batting .296 with an .855 OPS.
His recall provides the Dodgers with a left-handed-hitting option in center field. He is expected to share playing time with Kiké Hernández, who will likely see increased action in Pages' absence, and utilityman Tommy Edman, who also has considerable center field experience but is returning from offseason ankle surgery.