Gavin Lux, projected to be the starting shortstop for the Los Angeles Dodgers on Opening Day, will miss the entire 2023 season after suffering a torn ACL during the team’s spring training game on Monday.
Manager Dave Roberts said Lux is «obviously devastated,» according to ESPN, by his unfortunate situation. With the departure of Trea Turner to the Philadelphia Phillies, the shortstop was in the hands of Lux. He added 20 pounds of muscle this offseason, and his teammates talked about his work ethic before spring training.
Now, he will look forward to surgery on March 7 to repair his ACL, as well as the LCL damage, and begin the road to recovery.
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Gavin Lux #9 of the Los Angeles Dodgers looks on from the sidelines before the game against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park on August 1, 2022 in San Francisco, California. (Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
Roberts added that it’s a «big blow» for the Dodgers, who will likely lean on Miguel Rojas to fill Lux’s spot at short. Rojas made his major league debut in 2014 with Los Angeles, but has spent the past eight seasons with the Miami Marlins.
The 34-year-old Venezuelan hit .236.283/.323 in 140 games for Miami last year with six home runs, 19 doubles and 36 RBIs. Dodgers utility Chris Taylor may also see some time at shortstop.
DODGERS’ GAVIN LUX WALKED OFF THE FIELD AFTER INJURING HIS KNEE IN A SPRING TRAINING GAME
Despite the prospect of seeing more playing time, Rojas knows how much this season meant to Lux, who said he was «working hard to get ready.»
«He’s a big part of this club,» Rojas told reporters, via ESPN. «I feel bad for him because he has to go through whatever he has to go through.»
Lux’s injury occurred against the San Diego Padres, when he ran to third base on a groundout. As he tried to avoid the pitch to second, Lux’s knee buckled awkwardly and he fell to the ground. He immediately got up clutching his knee and the coaches brought the cart to the bag to receive him.
Gavin Lux of the Los Angeles Dodgers drops his bat as he hits a grand slam during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday, May 18, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Lux’s face said it all, as she knew something was wrong. More tests revealed what he and the Dodgers had hoped not to find.
Still, Lux is trying to stay positive throughout this process. She thanked everyone for the well wishes for her on Tuesday.
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«Just wanted to thank everyone for the thoughts and prayers, it means more than you all know!» he wrote on Twitter.
Lux, 25, was ready for his fifth season with the Dodgers. He was once his top prospect, working his way through the minors as the team’s 20th overall pick in the 2016 MLB Draft out of Indian Trail High School in Wisconsin.
Gavin Lux #9 of the Los Angeles Dodgers looks on during the game against the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium on July 6, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers defeated the Rockies 2-1. (Photos by Rob Leiter/MLB via Getty Images)
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Lux led the league in triples last season with seven, while slashing .276/.346/.399 with a .745 OPS, six home runs and 42 RBIs in 129 games, the most he has played up to this point in his career. career.