Gavin Lux to miss entire 2023 season with torn ACL

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Gavin Lux, projected to be the Los Angeles Dodgers starting shortstop on Opening Day, will miss the entire 2023 season after suffering a torn ACL during the team’s spring training game on Monday. 

Manager Dave Roberts said Lux is "obviously crushed," per ESPN, about his unfortunate situation. With the departure of Trea Turner to the Philadelphia Phillies, shortstop was Lux’s for the taking. He added 20 pounds of muscle this offseason, and his teammates spoke to his work ethic leading into spring training. 

Now, he will await surgery on March 7 to repair his ACL, as well as LCL damage, and start the road to recovery. 

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Gavin Lux #9 of the Los Angeles Dodgers looks on from the dugout before the game against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park on August 01, 2022 in San Francisco, California. (Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)

Roberts added that it is a "huge blow" to the Dodgers, who will likely be leaning on Miguel Rojas to fill Lux’s spot at short. Rojas made his big-league debut in 2014 with Los Angeles but has spent the past eight seasons with the Miami Marlins. 

The 34-year-old Venezuelan hit .236.283/.323 in 140 games for Miami last year with six homers, 19 doubles and 36 RBI. Chris Taylor, the Dodgers’ utility man, can also see some time at shortstop. 

DODGERS' GAVIN LUX CARTED OFF FIELD AFTER AWKWARDLY INJURING KNEE IN SPRING TRAINING GAME

Despite the prospect of seeing more playing time, Rojas knows how much this season meant to Lux, who he said was "working his a-- off to get ready."

"He’s a big part of this club," Rojas told reporters, via ESPN. "I just feel bad for him that he has to go through whatever he’s going to have to go through."

Lux’s injury occurred against the San Diego Padres, when he ran toward third base on a ground ball. As he tried to avoid the throw to second, Lux’s knee awkwardly buckled, and he fell to the dirt. He immediately came up clutching his knee, and trainers brought the cart out to the bag to meet him. 

Los Angeles Dodgers' Gavin Lux drops his bat as he hits a grand slam during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks Tuesday, May 18, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Lux’s face said it all, as he knew something was wrong. Further testing revealed what he and the Dodgers hoped not to find. 

Still, Lux is trying to remain positive throughout this process. He thanked everyone for their well-wishes on Tuesday. 

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"Just wanted to thank everyone for the thoughts and prayers, means more than you all know!" he wrote on Twitter. 

Lux, 25, was set for his fifth season with the Dodgers. He was once their top prospect, working his way through the minors as the team’s 20th overall pick in the 2016 MLB Draft out of Indian Trail High School in Wisconsin. 

Gavin Lux #9 of the Los Angeles Dodgers looks on during the game against the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium on July 6, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers defeated the Rockies 2-1. (Rob Leiter/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

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Lux led the league in triples last season with seven, while slashing .276/.346/.399 with a .745 OPS, six homers and 42 RBI over 129 games — the most he’s played to this point in his career.