Dodgers: End of Season Minor League Awards

There are a few options for this award. Quick risers, Dennis Santana and Caleb Ferguson make a case for the spot because of their sheer dominance over three levels but the lack of innings and time spent on the farm kills their chances of winning the award.

Will Smith also makes a case as he enjoyed a career season that catapulted him all the way up to Triple-A. The versatile catcher, capable of playing both third and second base in addition to being a very good backstop, was a juggernaut on offense where he smacked 20 home runs but his batting average and on-base percentage take the former first-round draft pick off the MVP list.

So, who is it? The answer is actually fairly easy: it’s Gavin Lux.

Gavin Lux was the Dodgers’ 20th overall pick in 2016 out of Indian Trail High School. The smooth-fielding shortstop and second baseman struggled in his first two professional seasons after getting drafted and Dodger fans began to doubt the talented player’s ability to live up to his expectations.

He silenced the haters.

In 2018, Lux was a new player. On defense, Gavin was making highlight-reel plays and offensively, he hit .324 across both High-A and Double-A. The young middle infielder also hit 15 home runs this season while stealing 13 bases.

The breakout was a necessary one not only for the front office’s confidence but for Gavin Lux’s moral. Lux can go into next season with confidence that he is as good as expected and because of the numbers, he not only earns confidence but he also gets recognition.

The recognition here has earned Gavin Lux the Dodgers Way Minor League MVP award.