PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- As the Rays made their way onto Field 5 at Charlotte Sports Park for defensive drills on Monday morning, Gavin Lux took his place at second base. And, in a welcome change, only second base.
The Rays acquired Lux from the Reds in a three-team trade involving the Angels last month, and he was happy to hear their plan to install him as their primary option at second base, where they had an opening after trading Brandon Lowe to the Pirates.
“When I got the news and they said I'd be back playing second base, I was really excited to get here and get to know everybody,” Lux said before Monday’s Spring Training workout. “I've heard nothing but good things, so I'm excited to be here.”
For as much as Lux enjoyed his season with the Reds, it was an odd pairing in terms of roster construction. Lux was a highly touted middle-infield prospect, but he was mostly a DH and left fielder with Cincinnati. He also played some second and third, making it hard to focus on any one position -- or even one part of the field.
The Rays think they’ll get the most out of the 28-year-old by locking him into second base. He feels the same way.
“Just showing up to the field and not wondering where you're going to [be]. 'Am I going to play left? Am I going to DH?'” Lux said. “I can put all my focus into second base, and just trying to become the best second baseman I can, and not have to worry about other positions. I think it just kind of gives me a peace of mind, and I'm looking forward to that part.”
Lux is likely to handle second base against right-handed pitchers, with Taylor Walls expected to start at shortstop, Junior Caminero at third and Jonathan Aranda handling first, while Yandy Díaz gets most of his at-bats as the DH. The Rays could platoon Lux with the right-handed-hitting Ben Williamson, who will also be an option to back up Walls and Caminero.
Lux has been a solid performer against right-handed pitchers in the Majors, recording a .269/.344/.406 slash line in those matchups compared to a .198/.277/.260 line against lefties. Lux said he worked in the offseason on pulling the ball in the air more in an effort to add power to his game after hitting only five homers last year, but what he did in Cincinnati would complement a lineup built around Caminero, Aranda and Díaz.
In 140 games, Lux posted a .350 on-base percentage and hit 28 doubles. While he won’t replace Lowe’s rare home run power at second base, Lux would have tied Caminero for the second most doubles on the 2025 Rays and ranked third on the team in OBP.
“Hopefully, this year, I can slug a little more than I have in the past, but I know that's not really the biggest part of my game,” Lux said. “My game is to try to be a pest, be annoying to pitchers, work long at-bats and try to get on base for the Camis and the Yandys of the world.”
Lux earned rave reviews from his former manager, Terry Francona, when Rays manager Kevin Cash asked about him. And he’s earned high marks from the surprising number of former teammates he has inside the Rays' clubhouse, including fellow former Dodgers Ryan Pepiot, Jonny DeLuca and Garrett Cleavinger, as well as recent Reds Nick Martinez and Jake Fraley.
For Lux, that’s just one more reason he already feels comfortable with the Rays.
“It's not really like I don't know anyone and I have to meet everyone,” Lux said. “I already know a lot of these guys, so I think that's made the transition pretty easy.”
Camp notes
• Díaz, now the longest-tenured Ray, said he was “extremely grateful for the organization and thankful to God” that he’s still with the team after seeing so much roster turnover during the offseason.
“Obviously, it feels a little different with all the new faces, but we're all ballplayers at the end of the day,” Díaz said through interpreter Kevin Vera. “We all get to know each other. So, it's a matter of just becoming one as a group and getting to know all the new faces.”
• Five pitchers faced hitters in live batting practice Monday: starters Nick Martinez, Steven Matz and Ryan Pepiot, reliever Griffin Jax and swingman Yoendrys Gómez. Martinez worked two “innings,” while the others pitched one. Matz’s fastball touched 94-95 mph.
“They all looked good,” Cash said.
• All 67 players expected in Major League Spring Training camp have reported. The first full-squad workout is Tuesday morning.