The 2021 season was filled with ups and downs for Dodgers former top prospect Gavin Lux. The infielder battled through injuries and ineffectiveness, a minor league demotion, and a resurgence alongside a position change to put together a 1.6 bWAR season over 102 games.
Understandably, it’s easy to look at 2022 as something of a make or break season for the soon-to-be 24-year-old. It will be his fourth season with major league playing time and potentially his first with a more than obvious path to playing time in LA. Especially if one or both of Corey Seager and Chris Taylor leave the Dodgers via free agency.
Manager Dave Roberts shared his thoughts on Gavin and his hopes for next season and beyond.
“To be an everyday player is the goal,” Roberts said of the infielder. “I certainly see him as an everyday major-league player and however that plays out for the roster, we’ll know in time.”
Lux posted a triple slash line of .242/.328/.364 in 2021. However, the .360/.467/.500 line posted over the final month of the season shows the promise that once had him amongst the top prospects in all of baseball.
By all accounts, the Dodgers will look to Lux to take the reigns at second base next season. If Corey Seager does re-sign with LA, it would again create a logjam of infielders for Dave Roberts with Trea Turner and Justin Turner set to return in 2022. With the designated hitter likely coming to the National League full time next season, the club could create space by utilizing Justin Turner often as the DH while potentially looking to slide the less-rangey Corey Seager to third base and letting Trea Turner move to shortstop.
Whatever the case defensively, the greatest way for Gavin Lux to ensure playing time is to hit closer to how he hit in September and force the team to find a spot for him to settle in at.
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