Dodgers: Corey Seager injury creates potential springboard for Gavin Lux

In what is the dictionary definition of a good problem to have, the amount of star power on the Los Angeles Dodgers means that top prospects in their extremely deep farm system often don’t get a ton of big-league reps.

Gavin Lux has all the potential in the world, but he is currently blocked at shortstop by Corey Seager.

After barely playing in 2018, Seager is looking like the two-time All-Star the Dodgers were getting pre-injury.

After leading the NL in doubles with 44 in 2019, Seager launched 15 bombs in just 52 games during the shortened season last year. Lux hasn’t gotten off to as hot of a start at the plate in the big leagues.

Despite his rapid offensive ascension making him a top prospect, Lux has hit just .218 with six home runs and 30 RBI in 71 pro games. Luckily for him, some unfortunate injury luck for Seager might just work to his advantage.

Seager has officially fractured his right hand, an injury that will in all likelihood sideline him for a couple of weeks. The natural choice to replace him at shortstop is Lux, who will give the Dodgers as good a look as they’ve ever seen at him. Will he finally start to show his star power more consistently?

The Dodgers can evaluate Gavin Lux at shortstop.

Between Seager, Max Muncy, Justin Turner, and a host of other fill-ins who can play second or short in a pinch, it has been tough for Lux to really get into a rhythm. Hopefully, with two or three weeks as the unquestioned starter, he could end up proving to Dave Roberts that he is too talented to keep sitting on the bench.

In addition to solid defense that was originally his calling card before he came around with the bat, Lux has shown a penchant for coming through in the clutch with some big his, as evidenced by his three-run home run against the Seattle Mariners that pushed the Dodgers towards a victory.

Lux is only 23 years old and he’s under team control for the foreseeable future, but he needs to start turning his promise and potential into some production on the field. With enough money to buy any player they desire in free agency and more talent coming down the lane in the minors, the pressure is on Lux.

If his slick fielding translates to short, and his bat manages to improve without Seager in the lineup, Lux might earn a few more brownie points with Roberts. Another power outage without No. 5 in the lineup might start to get Dodger fans worried about when, if ever, he will take that next step.

Why the Los Angeles Dodgers signing Albert Pujols makes perfect sense

The Los Angeles Dodgers shocked the baseball world by signing Albert Pujols on Saturday in a move that surprisingly makes perfect sense.