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Dodgers: should big time prospect Gavin Lux be brought up?

By Jack Trent Dorfman

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 25: Gavin Lux #81 of the Los Angeles Dodgers warms up before the MLB spring training game against the Chicago Cubs at Camelback Ranch on February 25, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 25: Gavin Lux #81 of the Los Angeles Dodgers warms up before the MLB spring training game against the Chicago Cubs at Camelback Ranch on February 25, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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BOSTON, MA – JULY 14: A.J. Pollock #11 celebrates with teammate Chris Taylor #3 of the Los Angeles Dodgers after hitting a three run home run in the first inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on July 14, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Kathryn Riley/Getty Images) /

Decisions, Decisions…

For me, the biggest initial question would be could the Dodgers be rushing Lux with a July call up?

For starters, the 2016 first-round pick has played just fifteen games at the Triple-A level. Now, of course, Triple-A experience and success are not a necessary prerequisite for calling up a player of his caliber.

But the Dodgers are not a rebuilding team looking to get good quick. The team is already solid, deep and successful up to this point in the season. They do not seem to need an infusion of youth energy as of yet, as they have been refreshed by A.J. Pollock in the outfield and Corey Seager in the infield to solidify the lineup, and Matt Beaty was recalled in favor of Lux to replace Chris Taylor just a few days ago.

So why call up Lux before a spot exists for him? Simply because he is literally pushing the envelope. The shortstop prospect, who would need to play second base for the big league club most of the time, hit .500 through 8 games at the Triple-A level and has been able to maintain that .500 average through 15 games now.

To go along with his average, he’s got 7 home runs, 9 doubles and 2 triples, good for a 1.063 SLG%. And at Double-A he hit .313/.375/.521 in 64 games, maintaining his sky-high career BABIP of .297 with a .358 mark with the Double-A squad.

Basically, if ever there was a time for Lux to come up, it would be now, or at least in the coming weeks. That is if there were a clear need and an open slot in the infield for him. And there was, at least until Matt Beaty, one of my favorite OKC Dodgers, was recalled.

But the addition of Lux could lead to the dismantling team chemistry. Right? Sliding Lux into the lineup would likely mean one player losing ABs to him every night, and this player would be an experienced major leaguer no matter where he would play.  The only young player whose ABs could go away without much fanfare is Beaty, and he really seems to have earned his place.

So where would Lux fit? That’s what I’ll explore next…

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