The Los Angeles Dodgers are due to be without Gavin Lux for the entire 2023 season as an MRI revealed he suffered a torn ACL in his right knee along with some damage to the LCL.
Lux sustained the injury during the sixth inning of Monday’s game against the San Diego Padres. He attempted to avoid a throw while running from second base to third base, and stumbled to the ground in the process.
Lux immediately grabbed at his right knee area and was carted off the field.
“What I did hear first off was from Gavin, and obviously there’s some fear in there. Outside of the knee, he heard something pop,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after the win. “So obviously as a player you’re thinking the worst. We don’t know a whole lot right now. He’s on his way to get an MRI.”
On Tuesday, Roberts said the team’s fears were confirmed. Lux is returning to Los Angeles next week and will undergo surgery on March 7.
The injury is a disappointing development for Lux, who was primed to take over as the starting shortstop this year. He expressed excitement over returning to his natural position, and the Dodgers were confident the former top prospect would handle it well.
Lux went 2-for-6 with one run scored in two Cactus League games. The Dodgers planned to start Lux alongside Miguel Vargas with plenty of regularity throughout the spring to further aid with their process of developing chemistry up the middle of the infield.
Freeman anticipated big season from Lux
Along with the Dodgers front office and coaching staff looking forward to Lux playing a key role for the team, Freddie Freeman shared a similar sentiment.
“When you have young players like Miguel Vargas, Gavin Stone, Bobby Miller and who I’m most excited about, Gavin Lux,” Freeman recently said. “I know he’s been here, I get that, but the man was hitting .300 last year. Consistent with his approach, his plan of attack, and now he’s been given the task to play shortstop.
“Not just shortstop, but for the Los Angeles Dodgers. That’s a big task. If anybody is ready to do that, I think he is. I think he had a nice building year last year. Wish he didn’t get hurt at the end.”
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