Gavin Lux Appreciates the Constant Support From Dodgers' Front Office

The young infielder is expected to be the everyday shortstop for Los Angeles this season.

Dodgers shortstop Gavin Lux will be making his return to the field this season after he tore his ACL in Spring Training last season. Lux ended up missing the entire 2023 season but has worked hard to get through the rehab process.

Lux is now expected to be ready to go for Opening Day and be the everyday shortstop in Los Angeles this season. The Dodgers' first-round draft pick in 2016 will get another chance to fulfill his potential after a long wait that began the day he got injured.

Despite all the offseason trade rumors involving potential shortstop upgrades, the Dodgers' front office believed in Lux enough to stand pat with their 26-year-old shortstop. Lux spoke about what it meant to consistently hear support from the Dodgers' front office. 

“Obviously, (general manager Brandon Gomes) to say that and (president of baseball operations) Andrew (Friedman), and just to have the front office still believe in you and nothing changes, that means a lot, and kind of boosts your confidence obviously. But those guys have been nothing but extremely supportive the entire way this whole process that kind of sucked, and definitely thankful for all those guys. Not everyone’s like that.”

.@TheRealGavinLux joins our studio crew to discuss where he’s at with his rehab, how it’s like being around Shohei and more. pic.twitter.com/uaLclrBtOu

— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) January 25, 2024

In 2022, Lux hit six home runs and had 42 RBIs over 129 games played. He slashed .276/.346/.745 while showing improved bat skills and speed on the basepaths. 

If he can remain healthy this season, it will be a major victory for this Dodgers team. Los Angeles' roster is stacked from top to bottom, so Lux will be able to ease his way back from the injury with relatively minimal pressure to hit like an All-Star.

Lux can have a career year and still be the fifth-best left-handed hitter in the Dodgers' lineup behind Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, Max Muncy and James Outman.

More than his bat, the onus will be on Lux to show he can handle the defensive demands of one of baseball's most challenging positions after a year lost to a major injury.