The Los Angeles Dodgers finished the 2022 season with Trea Turner at shortstop and Gavin Lux as the alternative option there.
Chris Taylor was also around for depth.
That setting was elite: it gave them star-power, quality depth, and potential.
But the season ended, and Turner got $300 million reasons to play for the Philadelphia Phillies.
Lux was expected to take over as the 2023 shortstop.
But the unexpected happen: he tore his ACL running the bases this week and is out for the season.
The recovery is expected to take him about eight months, which means he is missing the entire 2023 season.
It’s a shame for a player who had worked hard all winter to gain some pounds of muscle and increase his power.
The Dodgers are now left with a sizable hole at short.
Taylor will get the first crack at replacing Lux in spring training play.
Chris Taylor starts at shortstop today for the #Dodgers pic.twitter.com/WH2Y1H8y4v
— Juan Toribio (@juanctoribio) March 1, 2023
Taylor, who has developed into a super-utility player for the Dodgers in recent seasons, is more adept to playing left field and second base these days.
However, it’s easy to forget that when he was coming up through the ranks with the Seattle Mariners, he was a shortstop.
He is capable of playing the position even though he is not really an asset there.
Despite Miguel Rojas‘ superior fielding, Taylor is the best alternative to be the Dodgers’ shortstop once the season starts.
But Taylor is capable of hitting 20 home runs and stealing 15 bases.
He also plays hard and has a lot of heart.
Both will surely play, as the Dodgers rotate a lot and like to keep the bench involved.
However, if there was a win-or-go-home game, Taylor will probably be the one making the starting lineup.
NEXT: Freddie Freeman Comments On Gavin Lux's Injury
