Gavin Lux - batting

Former Indian Trail star Gavin Lux made his Major League Baseball debut Monday night with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Lux, who was drafted in the first round in 2016, was promoted to Los Angeles on Monday morning.

Jerry Espinoza/clubhousecorner/milb photo

PHOENIX (AP) — Rosters expanded across baseball Sunday as the calendar flipped to September and the Los Angeles Dodgers added three veterans to their roster off the injured list for their 4-3 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks.

They added another player at Dodger Stadium on Monday to more hype.

Gavin Lux, the former Indian Trail star and the organization’s top prospect, made his major league debut Monday night against the Colorado Rockies.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Lux will start at second base.

“Gavin’s earned this opportunity,” Roberts said. “I think that’s kind of plain and simple.”

Lux, 21, stormed his way through the minor leagues over the last two years. A first-round pick in 2016, the middle infielder solidified himself as a bona fide prospect last season when he batted .324 with 15 home runs and a .913 on-base-plus-slugging percentage in 116 games between Class-A Rancho Cucamonga and double-A Tulsa.

He produced at a higher clip this year, batting .313 with 13 home runs and an .896 OPS in 64 games for Tulsa before getting called up to triple-A Oklahoma City.

In 49 games for Oklahoma City, he hit .392 with 13 home runs and a 1.197 OPS. Between the two levels, he slashed .347/.421/.607 and accumulated 61 walks in 523 plate appearances.

Defensively, the Kenosha native had throwing accuracy problems resurface in spring training that continued into the early part of the season. He corrected them and made 13 errors in 776 innings on defense, primarily at shortstop.

Over the last month, in preparation for a possible call-up to the majors, the Dodgers had Lux play second base. He made 12 starts there for Oklahoma City after six with Tulsa.

Roberts said Lux will play regularly. Max Muncy’s wrist fracture, suffered last week, opens more opportunities at second base than initially thought. He can also spell Corey Seager at shortstop.

“I think we’re all excited to see him,” Roberts said. “It’s very exciting to see a young player who can play both sides of the baseball. Dynamic, organizational guy. To see his debut at home, we’re all excited.”

Started at second

Lux’s high school coach, Mike Schmidt, said Monday that his former star played second base as a freshman before he moved to shortstop, so he wasn’t overly concerned with the transition.

“He slid over to short thereafter,” Schmidt said. “If you can play shortstop, you can play anywhere on the infield. These guys are pros.

“One thing Gavin is going to provide for them is versatility as a young guy.”

There’s another factor that Schmidt feels will benefit the Dodgers, and that’s the speed Lux possesses on the basepaths.

“It’s kind of a stat that gets lost, but it’s his speed and his ability to run the bases (as well),” Schmidt said. “Gavin brings that component. That’s another element that I’m excited to see.”

Lux is joining a team that traditionally is in the conversation for the playoffs and beyond.

And this year isn’t any different, as the Dodgers are looking to return to the World Series yet again.

The fact that he will be plugged right into the starting lineup, and join a number of other draft picks from that same class in 2016, speaks volumes about the organization, Schmidt said.

“They’re able to just keep plugging along,” he said. “They have deep pockets and go get whoever they want, but it’s not good enough just to be able to do that. You have to be able to develop and grow your talent.

“Gavin is a product of that and what they’ve been doing, not just this year, but years before. Guys you see on their roster are home-grown talent. The Dodgers probably do that better than anyone.”

Schmidt reflected on a moment when Lux was just a freshman — but his natural baseball ability certainly was clear even then — to a thought he had while he was hitting grounders to the infielders.

At that time, Schmidt thought he just may be hitting to a future big league player.

And now that’s become a reality.

“Today, I think back at that moment and that thought and it’s kind of come full circle,” Schmidt said. “It’s true. I can really say that.

“I can’t say enough about how proud I am of him. I’m so happy for him.”

Kenosha News sports reporter Dan Truttschel contributed to this report.

Copyright 2019 Tribune Content Agency.