The Los Angeles Dodgers began their road trip Friday night without Chris Taylor in the lineup and also lost Gavin Lux on a late scratch due to what the team only described as a right forearm injury.
Matt Beaty started in left field instead. The severity of Lux’s injury has not yet been made public, but it nevertheless is an unfortunate development.
The Dodgers’ former top prospect was enduring another inconsistent season that led to being demoted to Triple-A Oklahoma City earlier this month. However, the 23-year-old has put together an impressive stretch since returning last week.
Lux has seven hits in 17 at-bats (.411), along with three walks in 21 plate appearances. The offensive production has been a boon to the bottom of the Dodgers’ lineup that also started to received improved production from Cody Bellinger.
“There’s just more of a calmness in the batter’s box,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of Lux. “I think he’s really settled in, he’s allowing his athleticism and ability to be a good baseball player kind of come to the forefront.
“There’s just no panic in the box. He’s always had the ability to look over the baseball, and now there’s a calm, a clarity, and he’s using the whole field, taking really good at-bats and helping us win some ballgames. Really, really excited for him.”
Lux learning left field
Along with getting back on track offensively after spending multiple weeks with OKC, Lux has exclusively played left field. He previously expressed an openness to filling a utility role the Dodgers envisioned for the time being.
Playing left field, which Lux initially started to do for OKC, is a career first. It’s come with some growing pains — namely communication issues — but Roberts credited Lux for taking on the challenge and not playing passively.
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