Every year, or at least every year since 2012, we’ve taken some time after the season was over to look at the past 162 games through the lens of the players that played them (and the management that was in charge of them). Last year, the Exit Interview series spent less time digging into splits and finding numerical oddities and more time reflecting on the player and their season. It was a style that seemed to work so we’re going to bring it back again this year. The legendary cardinalsgifs is back to bring us excellent series art, so it’s all downhill after you see that!
Player: Pedro Pages
Stats: 68 G, 218 PA, 19 R, 3 2B, 2 3B, 7 HR, 27 RBI, 2 SB, .238/.281/.376, 0.8 bWAR
Statcast: 4.8% barrel, 32.0 sweet spot, 109.7 max exit velocity, .286 wOBA, .275 xwOBA, 26.6 K%, 6.0 BB%
Grade: B
Pages was a great story in 2024. Who couldn’t be enthralled with the fact he hit his first two major league home runs in Wrigley Field, the second with his dad in attendance on Father’s Day. Pages had barely touched Memphis before he got the call to the big leagues and while he went back and forth a few times depending on the situation, he was up for good in early May. Even when Willson Contreras returned, the Cards wound up optioning down Ivan Herrera, a more highly ranked and touted prospect, rather than the more understated Pages.
It’s fair to ask if the front office fell a little too much in love with Pages over the season. Sure, he’s known for his pitch framing and he was slightly better at throwing out runners than Herrera, but Herrera’s bat was much more potent. Was the defensive difference that large and that important with a sputtering lineup? Even when the club carried three catchers or when Contreras was out, the split seemed to favor Pages more than expected. Were they seeing something that didn’t translate? It wouldn’t seem that they could have afforded to be too fancy.
What’s in store for 2025: With Contreras moving to first and DH, it would seem that Pages will get plenty of time behind the dish next season. The Cards seem to still be talking about wanting to see more of him, even at the expense of Herrera. Their spring training competition–and who winds up getting more opportunities–should be something quite interesting to watch.
