Dodgers Shortstop Gavin Lux Reveals How He’s Working On Improving His Defense
Gavin Lux is fully recovered from surgery that repaired the two main ligaments in his knee and was assured that he would be the starting shortstop for the Los Angeles Dodgers coming into camp.
However, it is taking him a little longer to return to starting shortstop form.
Lux has been struggling to make consistent throws to first base and if it weren’t for a Gold Glove first baseman in Freddie Freeman, he would have more than two errors this spring.
On Thursday, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was even noncommittal about naming Lux his Opening Day shortstop.
Lux is still trying to get comfortable, and made that clear on Wednesday after his rough outing.
“I’m still trying to feel out my knee and everything and get comfortable with that. I haven’t really played defense in a year and a half, so I’m just getting out there and trying to get as many game reps as possible, and I’m working on the back fields and on the minor league side as much as possible to try to expedite this process.”
Gavin Lux via L.A. Times
Roberts has faith in Lux and believes these errors could be from him not playing baseball in a year. He expects that Lux is going “to keep getting better with repetitions.”
“To do anything where you’re trying to be perfect is difficult, and I think there’s some part of it where he hasn’t played baseball in quite some time. As he’s making plays and trying to get it across the diamond, he’s trying to be too fine. I don’t think it’s the mechanics of it. I think it’s just freeing himself up to be the athlete that he is.”
Gavin Lux via L.A. Times
The Dodgers open their season in two weeks, so Lux doesn’t have much time to prove to Roberts that he’s ready to go as an everyday shortstop.
And if he’s not ready to go by Opening Day, the Dodgers have Miguel Rojas waiting in the wings — but he doesn’t have the same offensive pop that Lux has.
Photo Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
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You’re a journalist? Hilarious.