Los Angeles Dodgers’ Gavin Lux is Having Himself a Grand 2022 Season

(Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire)

For Gavin Lux this season is different, after he struggled finding himself at the plate for four seasons, everything is finally clicking for the 24-year-old, former No.1 prospect.

As of July 29, Lux’s .307 batting average is the 13th highest amongst all MLB players this season. In addition, Lux has the third best batting average on the Dodgers, and is only trailing All-Stars Trea Turner and Freddie Freeman in that category. Throughout this season, Lux has flown under the radar as one of the Dodgers’ most productive and dominant players.

One might ask, how is Lux so calm, cool and collected at the plate.

“Just trying to stick to my plan and approach.” Lux said. “I always say as long as I have a plan, and I stick to it and do not deviate from it I can live going 0-4 and stuff like that, but just having a good plan and approach, sticking to it and not trying to deviate too much”

On top of Lux’s breakout season at the plate, he provides a lot of versatility to this already stacked team. Lux is able to play both second base and left field at a high level, and has a 2.7 WAR this year. Lux’s climb to the top was not explosive, rather it was steady. Each month this season, Lux’s batting average has been creeping higher and higher.

Lux’s Batting Average Each Month of the 2022 Season:

• April: Lux hit .255

• May: Lux hit .267

• June: Lux hit .341

• July: Lux hit .353

With Lux’s consistent play, his teammates and manager are taking notice of just how much he means to the team.

“Gavin has been doing pretty incredible all year,” Freddie Freeman said. “He’s been sitting in the nine-hole, just hitting .300 all year playing a great second base. Then, they throw him out in left field and he does that too, which is very hard to do.”

In addition to hitting for a high average, Lux already has 24 extra base hits this season, which is one more than he had throughout 102 games in 2021. For the Dodgers’ Lux has become a force to be reckoned with when hitting with men on base. This season, Lux is hitting .324 with runners on and has 27 RBI. When Lux steps up to the plate with runners on, the pressure does not phase him.

“Just two strikes, especially with guys in scoring position, just trying to shorten up and put the ball in play, and try to make something happen.” Lux said. “That’s really it, old school stuff shorten up, put it in play, and try to make something happen.”

With the help of Lux’s explosive bat, the Dodgers lead the National League West by 12 games, in second place is league foe the San Diego Padres. As the second half of the season is in full swing, the Dodgers are 6-2, and will embark on a tough 10 game stretch where they will play all three NL West teams. The first team the Dodgers will face is the Colorado Rockies, a team Lux has blossomed against this season. In Lux’s 30 at bats this season against the Rockies, he has a .500 batting average, has 15 hits, three RBI, five walks, and has only struck out once.

With the Dodgers certain to make the playoffs this season, Lux has become a key member of this ball club, and is having a breakout season. While baseball is a game of adjustments and failure, many believe Lux’s success can stand the test of time.

“Whatever he’s doing, he can sustain it,” manager Dave Roberts told the LA Times. “The results are always so up and down. But this year more than ever, I’ve seen his mindset be much more consistent.”