After struggling for most of the 2021 season, the Los Angeles Dodgers optioned Gavin Lux to Triple-A Oklahoma City last August. The former top prospect returned to the Majors the following month and looked like a completely different player at the plate.
Lux batted .360/.467/.500 with four extra-base hits and nine RBI over his final 17 games of the regular season. He continued his hot hitting in the playoffs, reaching base five times in 11 plate appearances against the San Francisco Giants in the National League Division Series.
Lux spent the time in the Minors working on his swing and becoming a more versatile player. A shortstop by trade, the 24-year-old learned how to play third base and the outfield on the fly, making all five of his starts against the Giants in center field.
Lux will continue seeing time all over the field this year as the Dodgers have All-Stars at every position. To prepare for this, he worked on outfield drills over the offseason, per Jack Harris of the L.A. Times:
“It’s hard to really replicate game fly balls, especially when you’re stuck indoors in Wisconsin,” he said. “But I still got a chance to, with my trainer, work on opening up and your first-step reads and stuff like that. You still could do some drill work, but it’s not the real thing.”
Lux experienced some growing pains in the outfield last season as he collided with Cody Bellinger that resulted in the former National League MVP sustaining a non-displaced fracture in his left ribs. Lux himself later suffered a neck stinger after crashing into the center field wall at full speed while attempting to make a running catch.
Lux played the outfield for the first time this spring on Wednesday, logging five innings in left field while also hitting a home run and drawing a walk in the Dodgers’ 6-2 win against the Cleveland Guardians.
Dodgers believe Lux can fill similar role to Taylor
With Lux capable of playing multiple positions, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts believes he can fill a similar role to Chris Taylor.
“I can (see it), and that’s a huge compliment,” Roberts recently said. “I think that sometimes we see things, Gavin is a shortstop, he’s the No. 1 prospect in baseball, or a second baseman, whatever it might be.
“To be an everyday player is the goal, and so it’s kind of cut up differently. So I certainly see him as an everyday Major League player and however that plays out for the roster, we’ll know in time.”
Have you subscribed to the Dodger Blue YouTube channel? Be sure to ring the notification bell to watch player interviews, participate in shows and giveaways, and stay up to date on all Dodgers news and rumors!
