"The Dodgers, who abandoned Lux because of Kim Hye-sung, will regret it." Why? Lux also hit 0.208 in the exhibition game
"The Dodgers, who abandoned Lux because of Kim Hye-sung, will regret it." Why? Lux also hit 0.208 in the exhibition game
Blog Article
Local media criticized the Dodgers' decision to send Gavin Lux (28, Cincinnati Reds) in a trade shortly after Kim Hye-sung (26, LA Dodgers).
"Gavin Lux will make the Dodgers regret abandoning him because of Kim Hye-sung," said local media "Dodgers Way," reporting the news of the Dodgers on the 12th (Korea time). "It is never good to overreact to the results of spring training, but the initial results of the Dodgers' decision to trade Lux for Kim Hye-sung are not good."
"Kim Hye-sung's first Major League exhibition game did not start smoothly. On the other hand, Lux had a good spring season with a batting average of 0.238, two doubles and four RBIs and one stolen base in nine games (until the game against the Los Angeles Angels on June 10)."
Lux, who entered the big league in 2019 as the Dodgers' next shortstop, hit .252 with 28 home runs, 155 RBIs and an OPS of 0.709 in 412 games, which did not meet expectations. Exposing anxiety not only in batting but also in defense, he caused the team to worry by moving his position from shortstop to second baseman.
Lux, who played as the Dodgers' main second baseman last year, had a batting average of 0.251 with 10 homers, 50 RBIs and an OPS of 0.703 in 139 games. It was a bit disappointing, but it was positive that he had his first double-digit home run since his debut and overcame his slump in the first half (batting average of 0.213 with three home runs and 24 RBIs with an OPS of 0.562) to rebound in the second half (batting average of 0.304 with seven home runs and 26 RBIs with an OPS of 0.898). He also performed well in the postseason, hitting one home run and four RBIs in 12 games.
However, in January, the Dodgers signed Kim Hye-sung on a three-plus-two-year, maximum-$22 million contract, a direct hit to Lux's position. In the end, Lux had to pack before the afterglow of winning the World Series was gone.
"I was surprised, but it's just a business. It can't be helped. I think I'm ready for everything that's going to come, going through knee injury and overcoming adversity," Lux said in an interview with The Athletic during his spring camp.
"At first, I felt emotional. I had just won the World Series. They were the only team I knew and the only staff. I had a lot of affection for the team and a good relationship with the staff," he said. "It was hard at first, but after that, I felt somewhat subdued. I'm excited to meet new teams and players and overcome everything and win games."
As a result, Kim was included in the minor camp-bound list announced by the Dodgers on Wednesday, no best-case scenario was made that he would be the starting second baseman of the opening game. Kim plans to start the 2025 season with Triple-A Oklahoma City Comets under the Dodgers. The final result at exhibition games is a batting average of 0.207 (six hits in 29 at-bats), one homer, three RBIs and two steals, and an OPS of 0.613 with four walks and 11 strikeouts.
Meanwhile, Lux is playing as a third baseman, designated hitter, and even left fielder in addition to his main position in the exhibition game. He had no hit in three times at bat against the Colorado Rockies on Saturday, and has a batting average of 0.208 (five hits in 24 times at bat) with four RBIs, two runs and one stolen base, and an OPS of 0.679.
"On the surface, Kim and Lux are similar in that they are both weak left-handed center infielders. However, theoretically, Mookie Betts could spend more time at second base because Kim has the ability to play shortstop as well," the Dodgers compared the two. 메이저놀이터
"Cincinnati highly appreciates Lux's versatility. Only time will tell if the Dodgers made the right decision," he added.