Gavin Lux

Gavin Lux's Biography

Gavin Thomas Lux, an esteemed American professional baseball player, was born on November 23, 1997. Known for his exceptional talent as a second baseman, he has made significant contributions to Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers. His journey to professional baseball has been paved with perseverance, patience, and hard work.

Growing up in Kenosha, Wisconsin, Lux honed his skills at the Indian Trail High School and Academy where he played baseball for several years and managed a commendable .560 batting average in his senior year. His performance catalyzed his ranking amongst the top 50 high school prospects leading up to the 2016 MLB draft. Lux also won the 2016 Wisconsin baseball Gatorade Player of the Year award and the Holy Rosary Sports Night Male Athlete of the Year Award in high school, which notably pushed his reputation within the baseball scouting community. Despite a firm commitment to Arizona State University, the upward progression of his career was already in motion.

The Los Angeles Dodgers recognized Lux’s potentials early on and selected him in the first round of the 2016 Major League Baseball draft. He was the 20th pick overall selection. Lux signed a contract with the Dodgers for a $2.31 million signing bonus and began his successful journey in professional baseball with the Arizona League Dodgers. He demonstrated impressive potential during this early stage of his career by finishing the season with the Ogden Raptors of the Pioneer Baseball League. Across both levels, he played in 56 games and had an impressive batting average of .296 and 21 RBIs.

In 2017, Lux got off to a slow start due to a rib issue. However, he bounced back in April and was assigned to the Single-A Great Lakes Loons of the Midwest League. He managed to play 101 games for the Loons, hitting seven home runs, and stealing 27 bases. His performance led to his promotion to the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes of the California League for the 2018 season. The Dodger’s faith in Lux continued to grow as he excelled at each level, further solidifying his standing as one of baseball’s brightest prospects.

In the 2018 season, he was selected to the mid-season all-star game and was promoted to the Tulsa Drillers of the Texas League in August. Lux was named to the post-season all-star team with Rancho Cucamonga and was recognized as the Dodgers Minor League Player of the Year. During this period, he played in 116 games and produced notable results, including 15 home runs and 57 RBIs.

In 2019, Lux began the season with the Tulsa Drillers. His consistent performance led to his selection for the mid-season Texas League All-Star Game, the All-Star Futures Game, and promotion to the Triple-A Oklahoma City Dodgers. He was also recognized as Baseball America’s Minor League Player of the Year and the Dodgers’ minor league player of the year for the second consecutive season.

September 2, 2019, marked a crucial milestone in Lux’s career as he was called to make his major league debut as the starting second baseman against the Colorado Rockies. His debut was impressive, scoring three runs in the game and hitting his first MLB home run on September 10, 2019, against the Baltimore Orioles. Despite his rookie status, Lux managed a .240 average in batting, two home runs, and drove in nine runs in his 23 games with the Dodgers in 2019.

The year 2020 saw a delay and shortening of the baseball season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Lux was sent to the team’s alternate training site at the beginning of the season because he wasn’t able to regain his timing after missing the first week of training camp in July. He only played in 19 games that season, hitting three homers and earning eight RBIs in 63 at bats.

In the 2021 season, Lux performed decently, hitting .242 with seven homers and 46 RBIs in 102 games. Notably, he demonstrated flexibility by playing several different positions but settled into the full-time second baseman role in 2022. That season, he played 129 games, hitting six homers and driving in 42 runs, leading the National League in triples with seven.

Although prepped to become the Dodger’s starting shortstop for the 2023 season, the year began unfavorably for Lux when his knee buckled during a spring training game, leading to a diagnosis of a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). Lux was sidelined for the entire 2023 season but managed to keep his spot on the roster and even signed a $1.22 million contract with the Dodgers during his first season of salary arbitration. In 2024, Lux returned to spring training in full health but had to switch back to second base due to poor defense at the shortstop position during the Cactus League games.

Off the field, Lux’s love for baseball comes from his family. His parents, Heather and Tom Lux Jr., have been supportive of his baseball career since his early years. His Uncle, Augie Schmidt, is a former minor league professional baseball player and current head coach of the Carthage College baseball team, which has undoubtedly influenced Lux’s dedication and love for the sport. Lux’s thrilling journey from a promising high-school athlete to a professional baseball all-star proves that dedication, hard work, and perseverance can lead to extraordinary heights.