Gavin Lux has emerged as one of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ most productive bats in the second half after bouncing back from a rough start to his season.
Since the All-Star break, the 26-year-old is hitting .370/.441/.654 with eight doubles, five home runs and 19 RBI in 93 plate appearances across 26 games (23 starts).
Lux recently attributed his success to being more aggressive at the plate, which includes having confidence in his health that in turn has led to swinging the bat harder.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts praised Lux for overcoming adversity and believes this is the best version of the former top prospect, via Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group:
“He hadn’t played baseball in a calendar year. You start to wonder if I can ever hit again,” Roberts said. “But to his credit, he just kept grinding and worked his way through it. I think this is the best version of Gavin Lux I’ve seen.”
Lux struggled out of the gate this season in what is his first big league action since 2022 after missing all of last year due to a torn ACL and LCL in his right knee.
Roberts previously said that Lux would need some time to feel more comfortable at the plate, and the former first-round draft pick has certainly settled in.
Lux’s emergence has been all the more imperative as the Dodgers dealt with a rash of injuries that included Mookie Betts missing an extended period. Betts has since returned, and went through another position change to play right field, partly because of the Dodgers wanting to keep Lux in the lineup on a regular basis.
Gavin Lux hitting higher in Dodgers lineup
As the Dodgers went through stretches without several key contributors due to injury, Lux benefited from moving up in the batting order.
“I think it’s fun. I don’t get to hit third or fourth too much,” he recently said. “Obviously when we’re healthy, I’m not going to be there, which is fine. Just getting some opportunities with guys on base, and trying to take advantage of that.
“Obviously when we’re fully healthy, I’m going to be in the bottom of the lineup, trying to set the table for the guys at the top, which is fine. Just build momentum. That’s really about it.”
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