Imagine being 21 years old and sitting in the Dodgers spring training clubhouse only feet away from guys named Clayton Kershaw, Justin Turner, Corey Seager, Cody Bellinger, and Russell Martin.

Imagine being the Dodgers fourth overall ranked prospect and so highly thought of that the Dodgers absolutely refused to include you in any trade talks … even for highly sought-after Miami Marlins All-Star catcher J.T. Realmuto (who ended up going to the Philadelphia Phillies) and receiving an invitation to Dodgers major league spring training.

Meet 21-year-old Kenosha, Wisconsin native Gavin Lux, who was drafted by the Dodgers in the first round of the 2016 MLB First-Year Player Draft out of Indian Trail High School in Kenosha and worked his way up from Rookie ball to Double-A in just two short seasons.

Although Lux was drafted as a shortstop, he played both middle infield positions on his fast track through the minors; something that Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters he will also do this spring.

“For this camp, yes,” Roberts said. “I think that his versatility, that ability to play short obviously primarily, but to handle the pivot at second base on a double play I think is a good thing for him in his development. And with spring training, you never know what’s going to happen, but I think that’s what’s going to happen with Gavin.

“But we believe he can play short and that’s the goal, that’s the goal,” Roberts added.

Obviously there is one small problem with this plan; Well, not really small, actually 6′-4″ tall Corey Seager, who is expected to be the Dodgers primary shortstop for (hopefully) a very long time once he fully recovers from season-ending Tommy John and left hip surgeries last season.

“Manny [Machado] was here to fill a hole, that we made a decision as an organization at the [July 31 trade] deadline or near it,” Roberts explained. “But Corey was going to be our short-term and long-term plan [all along].”

Although it is highly unlikely that Lux will break spring training camp on the Dodgers 25-man roster and is, in all probability, one season away from the Bigs, he is in an excellent position to eventually become the Dodgers primary second baseman and to spell Seager whenever he “needs a day,” as they say.

Needless to say, if you haven’t been paying attention to young Gavin Lux, you might want to start doing so … now.

Play Ball!

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