Versatile Lux prepared to play 'anywhere at any time'
Mark Sheldon
@m_sheldonGOODYEAR, Ariz. -- When Gavin Lux arrived at Reds camp, he knew he'd need multiple gloves for multiple positions. So he came prepared.
¡°I¡¯ve got three. One for third [base], one for second [base] and one for the outfield,¡± Lux said.
Lux, 27, was acquired from the Dodgers on Jan. 7 for Minor League outfielder Mike Sirota and a Competitive Balance Round A Draft pick. The Reds knew that they wanted his left-handed bat in their lineup, but they didn't identify a set position for him to play.
Last season for Los Angeles, Lux was the primary second baseman -- a position he has played 307 times over his five-year career. He has also played 69 games at shortstop, 39 in left field, six in center field and one at third base.
That makes where Lux winds up playing one of the camp mysteries this spring.
¡°When we got him, I got more texts and calls about him that said, ¡®Hey, you¡¯re getting a baseball player. You¡¯re getting a competitor. You¡¯re getting a great kid,'¡± Reds manager Terry Francona said. ¡°That made me feel good, people I respect in the game. He¡¯s up for whatever we¡¯re going to try to do, and I had heard that coming in.¡±
Although Lux will play second base during Saturday's split-squad road game vs. the Brewers, Francona has already stated that Matt McLain is likely set as Cincinnati's starting second baseman. Third base is an open spot for competition, and Lux's second game is slated to be there.
¡°We¡¯ll keep him out of the outfield, at least in the beginning," Francona said. "I just don¡¯t know if that¡¯s fair. Let¡¯s get his legs under him and then maybe look at some things.¡±
Last spring, the Dodgers had expected Lux to be their starting shortstop until he had trouble making the throws from the left side of the infield. That came after he missed all of 2023 with a torn ACL in his right knee.
Lux, who downplayed that issue, noted he has had no problem making throws from third base during his offseason and camp workouts.
¡°I think last year was so much of, I was getting back into playing after missing the whole year. I didn¡¯t really trust my leg," Lux said. "I don¡¯t think it was so much about throwing as just trying to get my feet back under me.¡±
Francona showed no concerns about Lux's ability to make throws.
"Whatever happened in L.A., I don¡¯t give a [damn]," Francona said. "This is the Reds, and it¡¯s 2025.¡±
Lux played third base four times in the Minors as well, and he spent extra time working there in the offseason. Cincinnati has numerous third base options under consideration with Lux, Jeimer Candelario, Noelvi Marte and Christian Encarnacion-Strand.
¡°I got a good amount of reps at third just to kind of be ready for whatever," Lux said. "I feel pretty comfortable over there. I played a little bit over there in the Minor Leagues. It¡¯s not totally unfamiliar.
¡°I think I will be prepared to be anywhere at any time."
Lux, who is under club control for two more seasons, slashed .251/.320/.383 with 2.1 WAR per Baseball Reference, 10 home runs and 50 RBIs over 139 games for the Dodgers last season. He will be moving from a pitcher-friendly home stadium to one of the most hitter-friendly places in Great American Ball Park.
Joining a predominantly young club that lacks postseason experience, Lux brings plenty. He has logged 85 plate appearances over 30 postseason games, and his eighth-inning sacrifice fly in the decisive Game 5 of the 2024 World Series tied the game before Mookie Betts drove in the go-ahead run to beat the Yankees.
"This is a really good group," Lux said of the Reds. "It¡¯s young. A lot of guys with talent. It¡¯s a really good group of guys that have fun playing baseball. We want to win. A lot of guys are right around my age. It¡¯s fun to play with guys in similar situations as you.¡±