Dodgers Blue Heaven: 2019 Bowman Next Top 2020 Prospects - Online Exclusive

Thursday, December 19, 2019

2019 Bowman Next Top 2020 Prospects - Online Exclusive - Gavin Lux

I've been wondering if Topps would add Gavin Lux to this set.

Over the past several weeks Topps has been releasing individual cards, on a daily basis, of a new online exclusive set that they are calling 2019 Bowman Next - a set featuring the Top-20 prospects of 2020. It began with Tigers outfield prospect Riley Green, and has included other notable youngsters like Bobby Witt Jr. of the Royals, Jo Adell of the Angels and Brendon Rodgers of the Rockies. Now, it includes the Dodger top-dog, Gavin Lux. Go here to check it out and order. You can also see a complete checklist here. Below is what's written on the back of the card:

Gavin Lux quickly rose through the Minor League ranks, raking at each level of the Minors before reaching the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2019. The slugging infielder posted an incredible .347 batting average with 26 home runs and 76 RBI before joining the MLB club.

The description above doesn't quite explain what a fantastic year Lux had in 2019. He began the season with the Double-A Tulsa Drillers and slashed a sold .313/.375/.521/.896 in 64 games. He would then advance to the Oklahoma City Dodgers -- their Triple A club -- and absolutely demolished PCL pitching. In 49 games he slashed .392/.478/.719/1.197 with 13 home runs, 39 RBI and committed just four errors on the field. For that he was named to the mid-season Texas League All-Star Game, the All-Star Futures Game and was Baseball America's Minor League Player of the Year. The Dodgers also named him their minor league player of the year for the second consecutive season. Per Alden Gonzalez at ESPN:

"He earned his way here," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said, "and he knocked the door down."

Lux, 21, overhauled his hitting mechanics in the summer of 2017 and overcame a mild case of the yips in the spring of 2019. He shot up the prospect rankings last year but attained mythical status after a recent promotion to Triple-A, tearing up the Pacific Coast League like few ever have. Lux batted .392/.478/.719 in the 232 plate appearances that preceded his major league call-up. He recorded 18 extra-base hits through his first 15 games and hit safely in 27 of his first 28.

And now, every team with players to trade wants him, and I believe the Dodgers would do best by not being tempted to let him go. This kid is a gamer and I suspect we'll be seeing him on highlight reels in Dodger Blue for years to come.

BTW, Topps has also made available various autographed version of this card, but they are pricey -- ranging from $64.99 to $799.99 a piece. At the time of this posting, the "1 of 1" autographed Lux card (priced at $799.99) has already sold. Check out what each of these cards look like below.

#T2A -- #/99 @ $64.99 #T2B -- #/49 @ $799.99