hen the Dodgers dealt Gavin Lux to the Cincinnati Reds this past offseason, the move barely registered in Los Angeles. Lux had been plagued by injuries and, despite showing glimpses of potential, never truly broke out. But early signs suggest the Reds may have pulled off one of the offseason’s most underrated moves.
Lux has come out firing in 2025, while the Dodgers—who got outfield prospect Mike Sirota and the 37th overall pick in the Competitive Balance Round A—might already be second-guessing their decision.
Lux Fuels Cincinnati’s Lineup
Just one month into the season, Lux ranks among MLB’s most productive hitters against right-handed pitching. His .448 weighted on-base average (wOBA) against righties ranks sixth among qualified hitters, just behind stars like Pete Alonso, Aaron Judge, Corbin Carroll, and Fernando Tatis Jr.—an elite group for a player once seen as expendable.
Lux isn’t doing it with sheer power—his .147 isolated power (ISO) shows he’s not mashing homers—but with relentless line-drive contact. He leads all hitters with 80+ plate appearances against righties in line-drive rate (33.3%) and has yet to pop up on the infield. In short, he’s putting balls in play with precision and purpose.
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While his .518 batting average on balls in play (BABIP) is likely to come down, Lux’s batted-ball metrics back up much of his success, suggesting this isn’t just a lucky streak.
Defensive Value Adds to Lux’s Impact
Lux’s value goes beyond the batter’s box. Amid injuries to key Reds players like Spencer Steer and Matt McLain, and a slow start from Jeimer Candelario, Lux’s ability to shift around the field—covering second base, left field, and even third—has made him indispensable.
Manager Terry Francona has made it a point to keep Lux in the lineup, and with Jonathan India now in Kansas City, Lux’s versatility has filled a major void.
Did L.A. Miscalculate?
The Dodgers traded Lux for future assets—betting on upside with Sirota and their draft pick. But while prospects offer promise, Lux is delivering results now. That’s especially meaningful for a Reds team with postseason ambitions.
The Dodgers may have viewed Lux as replaceable. Cincinnati, however, seems to have landed a difference-maker at a bargain.
Looking Ahead
Lux’s hot streak won’t last forever—it’s the nature of baseball. Still, this version of him looks closer to the breakout star the Dodgers once envisioned. Even with some regression, if Lux continues producing at this level, the Reds may have acquired a foundational player for far less than he’s worth.
And the Dodgers? They might be left wondering how a player with this kind of impact slipped through their fingers so easily.
