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Often Overlooked, Pedro Pagés Finds Ways to Contribute to Cardinals with his ... Running
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- Often Overlooked, Pedro Pagés Finds Ways to Contribute to Cardinals with his ... Running
(Reinhold Matay-Imagn Images)
ST. LOUIS – A light-hitting catcher whose specialty is handlingthe pitching staff and controlling the running game, Pedro Pagés ’contributionsoften fly below the radar for the St. Louis Cardinals .
However, that certainly wasn’t the case in the Cards 5-3defeat of the Guardians – a game where Pagés contributed to the win in obvious,tangible ways and even in a few surprising aspects.
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Pagés, a favorite in the Cardinals clubhouse because of hisquick wit and his relatability among both pitchers and position players, notonly singled in his team’s first run on Wednesday, but he used some headybaserunning to take second base when the outfielder’s throw sailed high overthe cutoff man’s head. Then, when Cleveland starter Slade Cecconi paid thecatcher with below-average speed little to no attention, Pagés incrediblyswiped third base.
Though he runs like most catchers, Pagés hustling waysembodied the Cardinals stated mission of keeping the pressure eon foes withtheir aggressive nature on the basepaths. In this instance, however, Pagés wasthinking a bit more selfishly as he giggled about his base-running thefts.
“I was so happy when I did that,” Pagés said of swipingthird base for the first time in his MLB career. “Last year, I didn’t get asteal, and I got two my first year (in 2024). That’s something that is a lot offun.”
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Pagés had more later in the game when he cut down Cleveland’s Daniel Schneemann while trying to steal second base in the third inning. Thestrong throw and quick tag by shortstop Masyn Winn gave Pagés a fourth caughtstealing this season in 15 tries. That 26.7 percent success rate is right inline with the 27.9 percent of base stealers that he nailed in 2025 (24 of 86).
Throwing out a runner, taking an extra base on anoverthrow, stealing a base and singling in a run made for one of Pagés’ bestgames of the season.
“I’m starting to simplify stuff, sticking to my approachand my plan and doing my little back knee thing,” Pagés said of the twist inhis pre-swing approach. “At the end of the day by simplifying my approach,looking for heaters and reacting to spin, that’s what I do well, and I want tokeep doing that.”
The 27-year-old native of Maracay, Venezuela, who immigratedto South Florida with his family and also played collegiately at FloridaAtlantic has not had a passed ball and committed just one throwing error thisseason, statistics that speak to his high level of defensive skills behind theplate. Offensively, he’s hitting just .206, but he’s contributed a double, ahomer, five RBI and Wednesday’s stolen base.
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Though his contributions often go unnoticed – and make hima target of a fanbase eager to see the promotions of Triple-A standouts JimmyCrooks and Leonardo Bernal – Pagés has the full respect of his teammates and theCards’ coaching staff.
“He does a lot of stuff for us on both sides of the balland just talking to (pitching coach) Dusty (Blake), there were some things thatPedro did behind the plate by navigating that (Cleveland) lineup,” managerOliver Marmol said. “Throwing out that runner, laying down a good bunt,advancing on a throw – he did a lot of little things for us.”
'Some of the best stuff I've ever caught'
Yet another way Pagés left his fingerprints on Wednesday’swin was with how he handled right-handed starting pitcher Dustin May , who shookoff a slow start to the season and won for the second straight time.
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As has so often been the case this season for Cardinalsstarting pitchers – who came into Wednesday with a 5.82 first-inning ERA – May alloweda run in the opening frame. However, he then breezed through the next fiveinnings with Pagés calling the pitches and keeping the oft-fiery right-handereven-keeled.
May and Pagés mixed six pitches, allowing the starter to scattersix hits over six innings of work. May got just two swings and misses, but hedid strike out four batters. Three of the hits allowed were on four-seamfastballs that averaged 97.3 mph, while the Guardians got one knock off each ofhis cutters, sweepers and sinkers.
Pagés thinks May is headed for a big 2026 because the6-foot-6 right-hander is fully healthy for the first time in three years andhis raw stuff is as impressive as any Cards starter in the past three years, Pagésstressed.
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“His stuff is nasty, man,” Pagés said, “His stuff is someof the best stuff I’ve ever caught in all of the years I’ve played, even when Iwas in the Minors. It’s impressive how good his stuff is, but it’s just amatter of him getting ahead of everyone and then using that stuff.”
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