Andy Pagés Stands Out as the Top Hitter in MLB at the Start of the 2026 Season

April 16, 2026

Cuban center fielder Andy Pagés has established himself as one of the most dominant players in Major League Baseball through the first weeks of the 2026 season. The 25-year-old Havana native is posting outstanding numbers for the Los Angeles Dodgers: a batting average above .375, seven home runs, more than 18 RBIs, and an OPS above 1.100 — numbers that place him among the strongest MVP candidates in the National League.

The performance is all the more remarkable given how the 2025 postseason ended for Pagés. He managed only four hits in 51 at-bats across 16 playoff games, a difficult October that motivated him to overhaul his hitting mechanics and training routines during the offseason. The work has paid off immediately once the new campaign began.

First baseman Freddie Freeman acknowledged the Cuban outfielder's impact after a recent game: Andy looks good on both sides of the ball. Hopefully the rest of us can join him. Manager Dave Roberts was equally effusive: He is controlling the zone and hitting to all fields. He is reading pitches well.

Pagés, born in Havana on December 8, 2000, joined the Dodgers in 2024 and has grown into one of the most complete center fielders in the majors, combining offensive production with elite range and arm strength in the outfield.