As the weather began heating up, so too did prospects in the Los Angeles Dodgers system, led by their top two. Gavin Lux and Dustin May, after representing the Dodgers in the Futures Game in early July, lit it up throughout the month and both were deemed untouchable at the trade deadline by the Dodgers’ brass.
Hitter: Gavin Lux
If you happen to live under a rock, you may not have heard how the Dodgers’ top prospect has fared last month. In 22 games and 92 at bats for Triple-A Oklahom a City, Lux hit .435/.519/.837, with a whopping .543 wOBA and 222 wRC+.
Let’s say that again: Gavin Lux was 122% better than the league-average player in July. His seven home runs and 26 RBI in July also led to a ridiculous .402 ISO.
Even more impressively, he’s raised his walk rate to 14.8%, while holding his strikeout rate to just 18.5%. He’s knocking on the door of the big leagues, even on a depth-loaded team like the Dodgers.
Lux has made it very hard for the Dodgers to at least not give him a look in September, and see what he can potentially bring in October.
Honorable Mentions: D.J. Peters, Connor Joe, Edwin Rios, Jacob Amaya, Leonel Valera
Peters, Joe, and Rios, along with some others in OKC, made for a lethal offensive July. Their OPS, totals respectively: 1.187, 1.138 and 1.211. Amaya and Valera have made the Low-A Great Lakes middle infield a talented one this year, and July was both of their best months.
Amaya had a .916 OPS and walked 20 times in 27 games, while Valera had an .809 OPS and stole 13 bases.
Pitcher: Dustin May
Like Lux, May also had a noteworthy first full month in Triple-A. May made four starts, going 2-0 with a 2.01 ERA. He struck out 23.3% of the batters he faced, and walked just 7.8%.
Opposing batters hit just .203 off him last month, and May’s last start saw him get through six innings on just 77 pitches, his most pitch efficient start this season.
May’s month of July ended with him not being traded, and his August started with his MLB debut. He’ll get the chance to vie for a spot on a potential postseason roster, either in the rotation or the bullpen.
Honorable Mentions: Josiah Gray, Edwin Uceta, Leo Crawford, Jose Martinez, Jeisson Cabrera
Gray could’ve easily garnered monthly recognition as well, as he had a 0.95 ERA across five starts between High-A Rancho Cucamonga and Double-A Tulsa , with a 33 strikeouts against six walks.
Uceta got back on track after a rough beginning for the Drillers, with a 1.47 ERA in six starts. Crawford had a 1.72 ERA in six starts for the Quakes, including a complete-game shutout.
Martinez won four of his five starts for Rancho Cucamonga, pitching to a 2.37 ERA with 31 and just seven walks. Cabrera has broken out in the Arizona League, where he put up a 1.25 ERA in 21.1 July innings, striking out 31.