After ‘crash course’ in the outfield, Dodgers’ Gavin Lux preparing for utility role

The Dodgers didn’t explicitly inform Gavin Lux to work on his outfield play this winter.

However after blossoming in a utility position on the finish of final season, when the pure infielder crammed in at a number of spots within the outfield whereas the crew battled accidents down the stretch, Lux understood it was one thing he wanted to do — including outfield work into his offseason routine at an enormous indoor coaching facility close to his house in snowy Wisconsin.

“It’s onerous to actually replicate recreation fly balls, particularly whenever you’re caught indoors in Wisconsin,” he mentioned. “However I nonetheless received an opportunity to, with my coach, work on opening up and your first-step reads and stuff like that. You continue to might do some drill work, nevertheless it’s not the actual factor.”

That made Wednesday one other necessary step for Lux, as he performed within the outfield in a recreation for the primary time this spring.

Whereas at coronary heart, the membership’s former prime prospect nonetheless considers himself a center infielder, he is aware of versatility within the outfield will present him extra alternatives on a loaded Dodgers roster that features an All-Star shortstop in Trea Turner and confirmed veteran choices elsewhere across the infield.

“I grew up enjoying shortstop, moved to second in 2019,” he mentioned. “I like shortstop. However wherever I can play, I’m going to get on the market and do it.”

Lux performed 5 innings Wednesday in left discipline whereas additionally hitting a house run and drawing a stroll within the Dodgers’ 6-2 win in opposition to the Cleveland Guardians.

Earlier within the day, supervisor Dave Roberts mentioned he expects the 24-year-old Lux will proceed to separate time between second base and left discipline as soon as the season begins.

“It simply provides to our versatility and makes him a extra helpful baseball participant,” Roberts mentioned. “It didn’t even need to be offered to him. Gavin is a brilliant man and understands that it offers him an opportunity to get extra at-bats.”

That was the case for Lux final season. After struggling over the primary half of the season, he was despatched again to triple-A Oklahoma Metropolis in August.

When left fielder AJ Pollock suffered an harm in early September, the Dodgers referred to as upon Lux to assist add depth to the outfield.

“I believe Doc referred to as our triple-A supervisor [Travis Barbary] and mentioned, ‘Hey we’d like him to play left discipline tomorrow,’” Lux recalled. “I used to be like ‘Oh, right here we go, let’s do it.’ Truthfully I used to be simply glad to be again.”

For the remainder of the common season, Lux turned an everyday presence within the lineup as a left fielder and heart fielder. All 5 of his postseason begins got here in heart discipline.

At first, the defensive outcomes had been blended. Lux collided with Cody Bellinger whereas monitoring a ball in a single recreation in September, leading to a few damaged ribs for Bellinger. A pair weeks later, Lux left a recreation early after working full pace into the wall making an attempt to make a catch.

However the extra Lux performed within the outfield, the extra comfy he turned.

“Clearly there’s going to be some bumps on the market, nonetheless studying tips on how to play the place,” he mentioned, noting he talked with Chris Taylor and Mookie Betts about their very own transitions from infield to outfield.

“However I believe I received a few of them out of the best way final 12 months,” Lux continued. “Coming into this 12 months, I sort of know what I must work on on the market as a result of I received a bunch of video games on the market.”

Added Roberts: “It was a crash course. I believe the open-mindedness from Gavin was crucial a part of it. Now you layer on his talent set, it made it loads simpler.”

Whereas he was adjusting to the outfield, Lux discovered a rhythm on the plate. Previous to his September recall, Lux had a profession .217 huge league batting common. Over the past month of the season, he hit .360 with a house run, 9 RBIs and extra walks than strikeouts.

“I don’t suppose it was something tremendous mechanical,” he mentioned. “Getting again up right here and getting these alternatives within the outfield, I believe it simply freed me up a little bit bit.

“I simply wished to win and make the playoff roster, so I believe all the interior focus was on successful as a substitute of, ‘Oh, my swing doesn’t really feel good, this doesn’t really feel good.’ ”

Lux’s future position with the Dodgers stays unclear. Turner might be a free agent after this season, making a doable opening at shortstop in 2023. The crew doesn’t have a set long-term second baseman both, although Taylor’s new deal runs by no less than 2025 and Max Muncy has a membership choice for subsequent season.

For now, Lux mentioned he’s glad to proceed in his hybrid position. He spent the winter getting ready to play all around the discipline. And he’s hopeful he can carry over the momentum he constructed from the tip of final season.

“I imply, you take a look at our roster and it’s just like the N.L. All-Star crew,” Lux mentioned. “You take a look at what CT [Chris Taylor] did these previous few years bouncing round, and he’s had numerous success. I believe doing one thing like that, that’s in all probability the position and I’m completely tremendous with that. Simply getting on the market, no matter it’s, to assist us win and do the little issues proper.”

Quick hops

Clayton Kershaw threw 37 pitches in his second begin of the spring, going 2⅓ innings with two runs, two hits, 4 strikeouts and a stroll. He mentioned he continues to really feel good coming off final season’s elbow harm, and was inspired Wednesday by a few of the changeups he threw, a pitch he has tinkered with throughout spring coaching in years previous.

The Dodgers formally introduced the signing of infielder Hanser Alberto. He’ll make $1.6 million this 12 months and has a $2-million membership choice for 2023 (or a $250,000 buy-out). In a corresponding transfer, the Dodgers designated infielder Matt Beaty for task. Beaty had a minor league choice remaining, however Roberts mentioned “if you happen to take a look at the development of our roster, the runway he probably would get, it simply wasn’t going to occur for him right here with us.”