Gavin Lux Gets the Nod
Los Angeles Dodgers top prospect Gavin Lux will make his Major League debut tonight against the Colorado Rockies. Many Dodger fans felt this was a major possibility. Lux has dominated every level of the minor leagues this year. As the calendar turns to September it makes perfect sense to reward Lux for his hard work and impressive stat lines. Manager Dave Roberts states that Lux will meet the team in Los Angeles on Monday and start at second base.
Let the speculation end. #Dodgers top prospect Gavin Lux is headed for Hollywood and the bright lights of the Major Leagues. https://t.co/3KudQaFxS2
— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) September 2, 2019
The Facts
Gavin Lux has had video game-like numbers this year in the minor leagues. He started the year in AA but was quickly called up to AAA in June. Lux did not waste much time turning the Los Angeles Dodgers organizations heads. Before the decision to call him up Lux was dominating AAA pitching. He was slashing .392/.478./719 with 13 home runs and 39 RBI in 49 games played.
The Timing
Just a few weeks ago the Dodgers front office was hesitant to call Lux up. However, with the diagnosis of Max Muncy‘s wrist injury, the timing seems to be perfect. Lux has been playing a lot of second base at AAA Oklahoma City. It was almost as if the Dodgers were slowly auditioning him to take over the role in Los Angeles. The call up also makes sense because the Dodgers will be facing three right-handed starting pitchers in their series against the Rockies.
Dave Roberts on planned promotion of Gavin Lux Monday: "This is a performance business. Gavin has earned this opportunity. I think that's plain and simple." #Dodgers will face 3 RH starting pitchers in series v Rockies
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) September 2, 2019
2016 Draft Class
The Dodgers had a great 2016 draft class. Some of the names of this draft class are Dustin May, Will Smith, and Tony Gonsolin, and Gavin Lux. The Dodgers have relied heavily on May, Smith, and Gonsolin down the stretch this year. It only makes sense that they also rely on their first-round pick Gavin Lux.
In one season, the Dodgers are going to have promoted Will Smith, Dustin May, Tony Gonsolin and now Gavin Lux, who may be the best of them all and will start at second base Monday. The player-development machine in Los Angeles is incredible — and plenty more are on the way.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) September 2, 2019
Moving Forward
It appears that the future is bright in Los Angeles. Young stars have emerged and continue to emerge wearing Dodger blue. It is scary to think that 27-year-old Cody Bellinger is a veteran in the Dodger clubhouse. He still has lots of MVP type years left to give Dodger fans. Will Smith has already shown how clutch of player he is. Dustin May and Tony Gonsolin have had some great outings and will continue to grow as dominant starters in the league. Gavin Lux could be another young star that makes Dodger fans ecstatic for the future.
The Dodgers have four players ranked in the top 100 of the MLB Pipeline rankings. Lux is ranked ninth and he joins May who is ranked # 32. Catcher Keibert Ruiz is ranked # 33 which makes the Dodgers well-stocked behind the dish. Right-handed pitcher Josiah Gray is ranked #99. The Dodgers have lost back to back World Series. So you could say this is a must-win year. But the future for the Dodgers looks so bright.
