Dodgers News: Gavin Lux Reveals He Hopes to Play This Season
Don’t call it a comeback… because it’s not yet. But there is an attempt in the works! Shortstop Gavin Lux, who blew out his knee in a freak play in his second game of the spring training season, announced to the world that he has his eyes set on a return this season. He joined the Dodgers’ pre-game show on SportsNet LA and revealed his hope in a somewhat passive statement.
Gavin Lux just told @SportsNetLA that he hopes to try and play this year. #Dodgers
— Clint Pasillas (@realFRG) July 4, 2023
Lux has reconstructive surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament and lateral collateral ligament in his right knee on March 7 and was expected to be out for the season. The day after his injury, he told reporters including DodgersNation.com that his motivation was to “win each day” and now those wins are piling up in a nice way for the 25-year-old.
He recently posted a video on his social media of him running on a zero gravity treadmill and has been spotted at Dodger Stadium in recent weeks going through some drills including throwing activity on the field. If he were to somehow return in the month of September, that would be roughly six months following his surgery. If it were to be in October, it would be about seven months removed, something that would be surprising but not unprecedented.
Back in 2016, then Chicago Cubs rookie Kyle Schwarber injured his knee in an outfield collision in early April and made it back in time for game 1 of the World Series that year. He was less than seven months removed from the surgery.
Lux admitted just two months ago that a return this year would “not be an option.” But, ahead of his bobblehead night at Dodger Stadium on Monday, things seem to have changed. He will continue his progress over the next few weeks and is expected to add hitting to the mix by the end of July. If he is able to make it back in some capacity, it would likely be in a very limited role. But to at least have the option would be nice for the Dodgers.
