Gavin Lux named Baseball America’s Player of the Year

Due to poor weather, the Pioneer League Championship series will start tonight in Idaho Falls. The Raptors will try to win their second championship in three seasons.

The Drillers return home today to play the Games 3 and 4 (and if necessary Game 5) this weekend. The Drillers are attempting to repeat as Texas League champions.

So with no games to report, today is an opportunity to review some of the honors Dodger prospects have begun to collect.

Baseball America names Gavin Lux Player of the Year

Infielder Gavin Lux was named Baseball America’s Minor League Player of the Year earlier this week. Lux hit a combined .347/.421/.607 at both Double-A and Triple-A this season. He had 59 extra-base hits which included 26 home runs.

The 2016 first-round pick made his major league debut on September 2, 2019 with a start at second base.

Baseball America has named Minor League Players of the Year since 1981 and the Dodgers organization now has three players who have received this honor. Outfielder Mike Marshall was the inaugural winner in 1981. First baseman Paul Konerko is the other Dodger who received this honor, Konerko won it in 1997.

Lux was also one of three players who ESPN’s Keith Law considered for his prospect of the year. Law would name Tampa Bay shortstop prospect Wander Franco as his choice with Lux and White Sox outfield prospect Luis Robert as his next two players just below Franco.

Law would also cite Dodger infield prospects Jeter Downs and Miguel Vargas as among his top prospect seasons in 2019.

Baseball America Minor League Classification All-Star Teams

The Dodgers had several players named to Baseball America’s All-Star teams this week.

Triple-A

• Gavin Lux was selected as the shortstop on the Triple-A classification All-Star team. Lux hit .392/.478/.719 in 49 games (232 plate appearances) at Oklahoma City.

Double-A

• Gavin Lux would also their choice as the Double-A classification All-Star at shortstop for his play at Tulsa. Lux hit .313/.375/.521 in 67 games (287 plate appearances).

Class-A (Advanced)

• Devin Mann, the Dodgers fifth-round pick in 2018, was selected as the second baseman for the classification that included teams from the California, Carolina and Florida State leagues. Mann hit .278/.358/.496 in 98 games for the Quakes. Mann hit 19 doubles and 19 home runs.
• Jeter Downs was selected as the shortstop for this classification. The 21-year old shortstop hit .269/.354/.507 with 33 doubles and 19 home runs for the Quakes. Downs would later be promoted to Tulsa where in 12 games, Downs hit .333/.429/.688. Downs has continued to play well in the postseason, in seven games and 35 plate appearances, Downs is hitting .344/.400/.688 with three home runs.

Class-A

• Miguel Vargas was named third baseman for his play at Great Lakes. In 70 games, Vargas hit .325/.399/.464. The 19-year old infielder would split time at both Great Lakes and Rancho Cucamonga this season.

Rookie

• Brandon Lewis was the Dodgers 2019 fourth round pick. Lewis hit a combined .333/.398/.608 at both AZL Dodgers Lasorda and Ogden in 44 games. He also had 14 doubles and 13 home runs. Lewis would finish the season at Great Lakes.
• Andy Pages, who turns 19 in December, played for Ogden this season. The outfielder hit .298/.398/.651 in 63 games with 22 doubles and 19 home runs.
• Melvin Jimenez started at Rancho Cucamonga in 2019 and after pitching seven games combined in May and June for the Quakes, he was sent to Ogden. In ten games and 20 innings pitched, Jimenez struck out 43 with six walks issued. He finished 5-0 with a 2.25 ERA and 0.70 WHIP. Jimenez would finish the season at Rancho Cucamonga.

Dominican Summer League

• Right-handed pitcher Heisell Baro was signed by the Dodgers last September. In 16 games, which included eight starts, The 17-year old Baro pitched 44⅓ innings with a 1.22 ERA. He struck out 47 and walked 16.
• Jerming Rosario was the other 17-year old Dodger right-handed pitcher named to this team. Baseball America’s 23rd best international prospect in 2018 pitched 13 games and 45⅓ innings this summer. He gave up eight runs (four earned) and 28 hits. Rosario struck out 43 and walked 15.

Double-A Tulsa

Advanced Rookie Ogden

Transactions

No transactions reported

Thursday scores

No games played

Friday schedule

5:05 pm PT: Tulsa (Markus Solbach) vs. Amarillo (Kyle Lloyd) - Game 3

6:15 pm: Ogden (TBD) vs. Idaho Falls [Royals] (TBD) - Game 1