Dodgers News: Gavin Lux Knows He Won’t Be the Next Kyle Schwarber

Dodgers shortstop Gavin Lux was hoping to somehow make it back from his torn ACL before the end of the 2023 season. That, however, isn’t going to happen.

After Lux injured his knee early in spring training, he was reportedly holding out some hope that he could return before the season ended.

In 2016, then-Cub Kyle Schwarber tore his ACL in the first week of the 2016 season and somehow made a miraculous return in the World Series. He was even a key contributor to the World Series champion Cubs, playing in Games 1, 2, 3, 6 and 7, and going 7-for-17 with a double and two RBIs.

Lux, however, isn’t going to make that same comeback, even if the Dodgers make the World Series this season. He told Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register that he knows this is going to be a much longer recovery process.

“After talking to Dr. (Neal) ElAttrache – if it were a straight ACL there would have been a chance. But with the lateral side and the hamstring stuff too, it’s just not realistic,” Lux said. “I kind of knew with the LCL stuff. Obviously, I’m still going to go through my PT stuff every day and try to get back this year. But, no, it’s not going to be an option.”

Lux said he was initially holding out hope as a means to motivate himself even further to attack his rehab. However, he’s come to terms with the fact that it just won’t be possible.

It’s a huge bummer for Lux, who was finally entering the season as ‘the guy’ at shortstop. There was no more Corey Seager; there was no more Trea Turner. This was finally the year for Lux to get the job he had always wanted.

Now, though, Lux is going to have to continue to wait.

On the bright side for Lux, the Dodgers didn’t elect to make any immediate moves at shortstop. Obviously, the year is still young, and that could change at any moment.

But for now, the Dodgers seem keen on letting Miguel Rojas, Chris Taylor and Mookie Betts rotate at the position this year, before they welcome Lux back at spring training next year.

We’ll see if that still ends up being the case as we get closer to the trade deadline.

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