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Dodgers Prospects: Gavin Lux Looks For Tips From Chase Utley and Justin Turner

If you are a thoroughly committed Dodgers fan, its likely that you have heard of Gavin Lux before. The slick middle infielder was a 1st round draft pick in 2016 out of Indian Trail High School in Kenosha, Wisconsin. He is also currently ranked the number three prospect in the Dodgers’ farm system.

Lux lit up the minor leagues last season playing at Rancho Cucamonga as well as Tulsa later in the year. He hit a combined 324 with some pop, hitting 15 home runs. This year, Gavin is tearing it up again, this time full-time at Double-A Tulsa. Through thirteen games, he is hitting 333 and already has 3 home runs. The time he spent in Southern California during the offseason may have actually paid off after all.



Lux spoke with Minor League Baseball’s Troy Schulte about how he chose to spend his off days around some big names this year. He spent one week a month during the offseason by flying to California to meet with big league coaches, players, and staff. One of those guys he got a chance to speak with was Chase Utley, also a left-handed hitting middle infielder. He also got some time with Justin Turner and Enrique Hernandez, as well as hitting coaches Rob Van Scoyoc and Brant Brown.

They’re super open to everything. The more I can pick their brains, the more I can learn. So, for me being around them everyday was a learning experience for me. – Gavin Lux

Any time a young player can talk with veterans of the game, especially well-established ones, it can be incredibly beneficial. Lux is performing quite well already this season and only wants to take his game even further.

I’m super left-eye dominant. I never knew that until this offseason, so I started opening up and, honestly, I’m just trying to stay inside and shoot it the other way, and if he stays inside, pull it. I just think the more you see them, the more you get off of them.

Lux hit just 244 with 7 home runs and a 693 OPS in his first professional season at A-ball. Most scouts believe that Lux has the potential to hit 15-20 home runs and potentially steal close to 20 bases a season with good speed. While he has some great arm strength, he will also need some work on mechanical issues. Lux had a tendency to throw away the ball often in the earlier part of his career.

6 Comments

  1. Since Gavin Lux is playing at AA-Tulsa, they are projecting him to be with the Dodgers in 2020(probably 2021 at the earliest). I hope to see him with the Dodgers(hope they don’t trade him) in a few years.

  2. Lux should be here when projected if all still goes well. As far as the Dodgers are concerned for now anyway this current team lacks any real RH hitting power and that is something that may be exposed come playoff time should Dodgers get there.

    1. PaulDodgerFan1965, the problem(philosophical) is the line-up the Dodgers put-in when they are faced with a LHP. They remove Pederson from the line-up which we will see(the Cubs will start LHPs Hamels,Lester), utilize auto-outs Taylor and Barnes. Muncy, Turner, Pollack Need to start hitting! I say put Pederson in there against a LHP(for 2 at-bats and sink or swim with him in there). I see the Dodgers getting swept by the Cubs. Later on at the end of the month when the Dodgers face the Giants(Pomeranz,Bumgarner) and Padres(Lucchessi, Margevicius) that’s 4-consecutive LHPs with an off-day between the Giants/Padres. Pederson won’t be starting for 4-games in 5-days(see Dodgers schedule starting April 30).

      1. Pollock needs to start hitting and Barnes is still horrible and Taylor is terrible. This is why the offense is so bad on lefty nights because they sit Joc and Verdugo and certain guys like Pollock and Barnes aren’t providing the needed production. I say at the very least have Verdugo be Jocs replacement against lefties instead of having Taylor

        1. Taylor,Barnes,Dodgers pitcher = 3-automatic outs!! Should I include Pollack, Muncy,Turner? One of the MLB-network analysts, John Smoltz? said about Turner, no need to worry because Turner’s a historically slow-starter. My question what happened to that .400 or so he was hitting in spring-training? That is why I heard Nomar Garciaparra comment he hated when he had a great spring-training, a hitting slump was bound to happen.

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