Former Opponent Inspires Pedro Pages to Revamp Swing
In a surprising turn of events, it was a conversation with a former opponent that led Pedro Pages to make a major change in his swing. The catcher had been struggling this season, trying out various adjustments, but it wasn’t until an early August chat with teammate Thomas Saggese that he found the solution.
Saggese, who had previously played against Pages in Class AA before being traded to the same team, suggested that Pages go back to the knee lift that had brought him success in the past. The two were chatting at Dodger Stadium when Saggese urged Pages to give it a try.
“Bro, just do it,” Pages recalled Saggese saying.
Initially hesitant, Pages was convinced when he realized they were about to face off against the formidable Shohei Ohtani. With nothing to lose, Pages decided to take Saggese’s advice and go back to the knee lift.
The results were immediate and impressive. Pages’ production at the plate improved significantly, proving that sometimes the best advice can come from unexpected sources. f Pages, who is on the 40-man roster, has made it easier for the Cardinals to consider moving on from Andrew Knizner, who is out of options and has been the backup to Yadier Molina this season.
CINCINNATI — Pedro Pages, the catcher for the St. Louis Cardinals, has been struggling with his swing this season. But after a conversation with a former opponent turned teammate, he made a change that has led to a surge in his performance.
Thomas Saggese, who used to play against Pages in Class AA before being traded to the same team, suggested that Pages go back to his old knee lift technique. Despite facing tough competition in the form of Shohei Ohtani, Pages decided to take Saggese’s advice and “just do it.”
Since then, Pages has been on fire, hitting .373 with a 1.115 OPS in the 15 games since he made the change. He even hit two home runs in consecutive games against the Cincinnati Reds this weekend.
This impressive performance has sparked discussions about the Cardinals’ catching situation for next season. With four potential catchers currently on the roster, including Pages, the team will have to make some tough decisions.
Manager Oli Marmol acknowledged that Pages’ performance has added to the conversation about who will be the team’s catchers in 2022. With the emergence of Pages and other young catchers like Yohel Pozo and Ivan Herrera, the Cardinals will have a lot to consider this offseason.
Marmol also mentioned that the team has been impressed with Leonardo Bernal, a catcher in the minor leagues who has received high praise. With all of these options, the Cardinals will have a lot to discuss when it comes to their catching situation for next season.
