Pagés' confidence soaring: Cards 'gravitate towards this guy'

JUPITER, Fla. -- As the Cardinals prepared to break camp last season, Pedro Pagés gave Miles Mikolas a generic “see you soon” farewell.

While Mikolas understood that Pagés likely wasn't making a prediction, the veteran pitcher decided to bust the Minor League-bound catcher's chops anyway.

Mikolas asked whether Pagés was planning to unseat either Willson Contreras or Iván Herrera -- the two catchers slated for St. Louis' Opening Day roster. Pagés, not realizing Mikolas was joking, felt the need to explain he wasn’t making a prediction, he was simply saying goodbye.

Not long after, prompted by a Contreras injury, Pagés walked into the Cardinals’ clubhouse as a big leaguer for the first time. The duo exchanged a knowing look.

“That was part of his confidence,” Mikolas said. “He knows he belongs here. He knows he can handle the job. It's nice to see him mature in that way.”

If Lifetime chose to make a baseball movie, it could do worse than mimicking Pagés' 2024 journey.

During Spring Training, the 2019 sixth-round Draft pick homered on the same day that he proposed to his girlfriend, Kori.

His Triple-A Memphis Redbirds were playing in Indianapolis when Pagés received his initial call to the big leagues. Unable to get a flight to St. Louis, he Ubered the four-hour drive to the ballpark.

Later, he proceeded to hit two of the season's most memorable home runs -- the second proving to be a game-winner on Father's Day at Wrigley Field with his parents in attendance.

“It's a weekend I'll never forget,” Pagés said. “It's just something crazy and something I'll always remember. It's a special weekend and, obviously, hopefully it happens again at some point.”

Pagés entered 2025 camp in a much different situation than a year ago. With the Cardinals undertaking a youth movement and last year's starter, Contreras, moving to first base, Pagés is expected to break camp with the Major League club.

“It's a little more comfortable, I guess, and it gives you more confidence,” Pagés said. “But at the end of the day, the job's not done. I've got to keep working every day and I'm just gonna keep doing it.”

Acclaimed for his work behind the plate, Pagés is expected to share catching duties with the more heralded former prospect Herrera, primarily a bat-first catcher.

“He cares,” Cardinals ace Sonny Gray said of Pagés. “He's approachable. You can tell he works at his craft. I can always respect and appreciate guys who are like that. I've enjoyed spending time with him.”

That sentiment permeates the Cardinals' clubhouse.

“People gravitate towards this guy,” St. Louis manager Oliver Marmol said. “Personality-wise, no matter young, veteran -- they like being around him. He's confident. He knows what he brings to the table, but you're seeing a little bit more of that this camp than last camp.”

Pagés’ bat could be the major determinant in how much playing time he sees this year. He hit .238 with seven homers and 27 RBIs last season across 202 at-bats.

This spring, Pagés has been working on making his swing more compact while trying to keep his body loose.

He'd been hitless this spring until an RBI double fell in front of Marlins center fielder Andrew Pintar during the fifth inning of the Cardinals’ 8-4 victory over Miami on Thursday.

“I needed that,” Pagés said. “This is gonna obviously help now -- just get a couple lucky things, lucky shots, and they lead to more hits.”

Though the hits hadn’t been falling, Pagés is making more consistent contact early this spring.

“He's driving the baseball,” Marmol said. “Even on at-bats where he has nothing to show for it, you can just tell that the overall approach and how the ball's going off is better.”

Pagés has proven adept at catching and hitting. Earlier this spring, he displayed a new tool.

On Feb. 18, Pagés brought a handful of Cardinals teammates about an hour south of Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium to his former school, Florida Atlantic University. There, he threw out the first pitch prior to the Owls’ 2-1 victory over the University of Miami.

Nolan Arenado served as the catcher for that first pitch, which Pagés dubbed “right down the middle.”

“I hope it sets the tone for the season there,” Pagés said. “They're doing good. They're off to a good start [7-1]. Hopefully they keep it up. But they look good, and hopefully I can say I played a little part of it.”