Dodgers: Justin Turner Thinks Playing Everyday Has Helped Gavin Lux
In parts of three seasons, Gavin Lux has not lived up to expectations. He struggled mightily during his call up in 2019 and looked lost in 2020. This year he started off pretty slow, but has become more productive as the season has gone on.
Much of that success has to do with being able to play every day at shortstop during the absence of an injured Corey Seager.
In fact teammate Justin Turner had a few words to say about his recent success.
“Gavin’s been great. He’s obviously getting the opportunity, for the first time, to play everyday which obviously is huge and beneficial to any player’s psyche – and I think the more reps, the more at bats, the more he’s out there, the more comfortable he’s gonna get.
If you just see him and pay attention to him, he just seems to be enjoying the game a lot more. It’s fun to go out and you know show off his skill set every single night and appreciate the game instead of – maybe in the past he was trying to prove that he belonged here.”
While a first glance at Lux’s stat line this year doesn’t seem like he’s having better success at the highest level, it’s a big step in the right direction.
2021 season (55 games)
- .244 batting average
- 6 home runs, 30 RBI
- 48 K/16 BB
2019-2020 seasons (42 games)
- .210 batting average
- 5 home runs, 17 RBI
- 43 K/13 BB
Just watching his presence and demeanor on the field like Turner mentioned helps show just how comfortable he’s gotten. Gavin still has the occasional hiccups on defense and has a lot of room to grow, but he’s started to take the needed steps in the right direction.
Will he ever be the superstar player that many hoped he would become? Maybe, maybe not. Can he still develop into a productive everyday player? We’re possibly starting to see the beginning of the real Gavin Lux.
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IMO, Gavin is still growing, so won’t know what his full capability until year 3.
Lux is doing well and enjoying the game again. Playing everyday gives you that confidence you belong. We may be looking at our SS for years to come if Corey doesn’t resign with the Dodgers.
I truly believe that Gavin is going to be a premier baseball player. He is just so incredibly smooth in the field and you can see him getting more and more comfortable in the box. Just let him play every day and we’ll see him shine.