Dodgers News: Gavin Lux feels like Rocky Balboa in training

Gavin Lux has been playing MLB The Show and working out in solitude while waiting for the 2020 season to begin.

Dodgers prospect Gavin Lux was supposed to be easing into his first full season in the Major Leagues by now. Slated to start the season as the everyday second baseman in Los Angeles, the 22-year-old, who is ranked the top prospect in the Dodgers rich farm system, has instead been spending his time honing his video game skills and working out by himself in Wisconsin.

In a text conversation with ESPN analyst Buster Olney, Lux joked he feels like the movie character Rocky Balboa while training in isolation in Wisconsin. Lux has been working out of a friend’s gym during the quarantine.

“One of my good friends owns a gym, so I’m able to go work out alone there pretty much on a daily basis,” Lux told Olney. “And if I can’t on a certain day, I have dumbbells, bands and a trap bar in my basement that I use. I’ve been hitting at my high school field when weather permits in Wisconsin, and hitting into a sock net in my garage.”

As players look for creative ways to stay busy while waiting on word about a possible start date for the 2020 season, Lux has become a star on MLB The Show 20, participating in a video game tournament with player representatives from all 30 MLB teams.

The young infielder has proven his virtual skills are as strong as his abilities on the diamond. He has won nine of his first 12 games in the round-robin tournament. The best eight teams at the end of a 29-game season will compete in a playoff round and best-of-five World Series in early May.

As a positional player, Lux doesn’t believe he needs a lot of time to get into real game shape. “At this point, give me 15-20 at-bats and I’ll be ready to go,” Lux said according to the OC Register.

Most people around baseball believe the league would need 3-4 weeks to ramp up toward a regular season in order to give pitchers enough time to strengthen their arms.

Lux has been using the offseason to build his brand on social media. He launched a YouTube channel a few months ago, and he is very active on different social media platforms, engaging with fans.

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The second baseman appeared in 23 games after his call-up last September, batting .240/.305/.400 with two home runs. He got a taste of postseason action against the Nationals, highlighted by a pinch-hit home run in Game 1 of the NLDS.