Gavin Lux Injury Update: Dodgers Shortstop Suffers Season-Ending Torn ACL
Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Gavin Lux went down with a torn ACL on Monday and is expected to miss the entire 2023 season.
In Monday’s Cactus League game against the San Diego Padres, Gavin Lux attempted to duck under a throw while running the bases only to see his knee buckle awkwardly. The injury immediately looked serious which was confirmed once the cart came out to help him off the field. He has since been diagnosed with a torn ACL and his season is over before it even gets started. This is a brutal loss for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
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This is essentially the worst-case scenario for the Dodgers who lost infielders Trea Turner and Justin Turner this offseason to free agency and didn’t go after any of the big-named free agents because they intended to have Lux slide into Trea Turner’s vacant shortstop position. Those plans have now drastically changed, and the team doesn’t seem to have an immediate answer. At least not one you’d hope to have if you’re a perennial World Series favorite.
As of now, the team plans to replace Lux with 34-year-old former Marlin Miguel Rojas. In 140 games last year, Rojas batted .236 with six home runs and 36 RBIs. He was clearly added as a depth piece and now looks like he will be thrust into a far more significant role. Another player who could potentially help fill the role is outfielder Chris Taylor according to head coach Dave Roberts.
There is also a chance the team looks elsewhere for a new shortstop prior to the start of the season. Free agency and trades are still both options. Jurickson Profar seems like the easiest and most obvious choice. He’s a free agency and money isn’t an issue for L.A. Jose Iglesias is also on the market. If they wanted to trade for someone they would likely be paying a premium at this time of year. It seems unlikely they would make a trade right now. However, Willy Adames and Tim Anderson were both believed to be on the trade block this offseason. Perhaps a deal could get worked out for one of them if the Dodgers were willing to pay the price. It’s more likely they stay put and make a trade later in the season if needed for a World Series push. This team should still be good enough to survive a few months without falling out of the playoff picture. Currently, their projected middle-infield is comprised of Rojas at short and rookie Miguel Vargas at second base.
Lux had been coming into his own as a player and the team was expecting him to make another jump this season. He’s been a versatile defender playing outfield early on in his career and being moved primarily to second base last season before working all offseason to be a starting shortstop in 2023. In 129 games last season, Lux batted .276 with six home runs and 42 RBIs. That was his best MLB season and it earned him a starting job this season. It will be tough for the Dodgers to replace his speed and versatility. This will also significantly set back his expected development at the plate and at his new position.
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Fantasy Impact Of Gavin Lux Injury
Beyond the ripple effect this will have on the Dodgers organization both long and short-term, many fantasy owners are now left wondering what to do now that they’ve already lost their projected top shortstop for the season. While Lux is far from an irreplaceable superstar many had pinpointed him as a potential breakout player in 2023. Although he hasn’t proven to be a consistent contributor in the power department yet, he did help in other areas where many power hitters do not, like triples and stolen bases. All of his numbers were projected to make a sizeable jump this season both because of his own development and a drastic increase in opportunity.
We already mentioned his versatility earlier, and he also brought that to the table for fantasy owners. On many platforms, he is also eligible as a second baseman and an outfielder increasing his value and his owner’s potential lineup flexibility. Like the Dodgers, owners must now turn to free agency and add someone off the waiver wire or try to make a trade. If you are looking at the Dodgers roster, Rojas is the most obvious beneficiary. However, with Taylor and possibly Mookie Betts being forced to play more infield, Trayce Thompson, David Peralta, and Jason Heyward could also see more playing time now. There are also longer shots for a surprise year like Bradley Zimmer and rookies, James Outman and Michael Busch.
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