‘I’ll be ready’: Reds Fans Receives High significance Stunning News From Gavin Lux
Gavin Lux may not yet know where he’ll start for the Cincinnati Reds, but he’s confident about where he wants to finish.
“As long as we stay healthy and play solid team baseball, there’s no reason this team shouldn’t make the playoffs,” said Lux, who understands what it takes to reach the postseason.
Acquired from the Dodgers in exchange for a 2024 third-round draft pick and a 2025 draft selection, Lux brings a wealth of playoff experience. He’s played in 30 postseason games with 85 plate appearances—more than the rest of the Reds’ hitters combined (19 games, 52 PAs). Across the entire roster, the total rises to 43 postseason games.
“It’s great here. Tito (Francona) and the staff are all on the same page,” Lux, 27, said. “We don’t care how it gets done—we just want to win. It’s exciting to be part of a talented young team with that mindset.”
Now, the focus shifts to figuring out where he’ll play.
“He’s open to whatever we need,” said manager Terry Francona, who plans to rotate Lux between second and third base early in spring training, though Matt McLain is currently set as the starting second baseman.
“We’ll let him get settled in the infield, and as that process unfolds, we’ll determine the best fit,” Francona added.
Lux previously struggled with throws from shortstop when the Dodgers tried him at different infield spots in 2022 and again last season.
“Whatever happened in L.A. doesn’t matter,” Francona said. “This is about the 2025 Reds.”
This season, Lux expects to rotate between three positions, including left field, where he has made 34 career starts.
Playing third base doesn’t concern him. In 2021, he made four Triple-A starts at the position along with one appearance in the majors.
“It’s just about adjusting to the different angles when reading swings,” Lux explained. “That’s what spring training is for—working through any issues and getting comfortable.”
As for throwing from third, he’s not worried.
“There are a few plays where you really have to let it fly, but people think it’s a longer throw than it actually is—it’s actually shorter than at shortstop,” he said.
Third base? Second? Left field? Maybe all three?
“I’ll be ready for whatever role they need,” Lux said.
His former manager believes Lux will thrive in Cincinnati.
“I think he’s going to do great,” said Dodgers skipper Dave Roberts, who saw Lux struggle early last season after missing all of 2023 with a knee injury. However, Lux bounced back in the second half, hitting .304 with a .391 on-base percentage and .899 OPS.
“He had to get his legs back under him,” Roberts said. “At some point, he just decided to forget the setbacks and just play baseball.
“I loved Gavin. I still love him.”