Gavin

Lux

Lux has been dealing with both shoulder and leg injuries and has yet to be able to play in 2026. The 28-year-old doesn’t have a timetable for a return, and his placement on the 60-day injured list opens a spot on the 40-man roster for Jon Heasley.

Lux is dealing with a new shoulder issue and will undergo imaging to determine the extent of the ailment. He suffered a leg injury while working his way back from a shoulder impingement last month while playing in a rehab contest at Triple-A Durham. He’s been snake-bitten by the injury bug this season and has yet to make his Tampa Bay debut. There is no timetable for his return.

Lux is hitting just .169/.329/.288 in 73 plate appearances in Triple-A with a 20/14 K/BB ratio. Lux has just a 20.5 percent hard-hit rate at Triple-A, so there doesn’t seem to be much to get excited about right now.

Lux, on the IL with a shoulder impingement, was finally showing signs of life today, doubling twice in the first game of a doubleheader. He had been 1-for-24 through seven games. The injury came in the second game tonight while he was running out a grounder.

Lux will open the regular season on the shelf after a late-spring shoulder issue kept him from getting enough game action to be ready for Opening Day. He’ll presumably head to Triple-A Durham for a brief rehab assignment before making his Rays debut at some point in April.

Lux had missed time this spring with a “cranky” shoulder but returned to the lineup on Sunday. Apparently, he didn’t recover from that game as well as the Rays would have hoped. While his injury means that Richie Palacios will make the Opening Day roster, it’s unclear if Palacios or Ben Williamson will start at second base with Lux out. Palacios is a left-handed hitter, which would favor him, but neither player needs to be added in fantasy leagues right now.

Lux played second today after getting scratched Saturday with shoulder soreness. He also hit third ahead of Junior Caminero again, just as he did Friday. We’re not sure we understand that call, especially with fellow lefty Jonathan Aranda set to hit second, but perhaps it’s not something that will linger into the regular season.

Rays manager Kevin Cash described Lux’s as a “cranky” while speaking to reporters on Saturday morning. It’ll be Ryan Vilade, who is a near-lock to make Tampa Bay’s season-opening roster, taking over at the keystone while he recovers. Lux will open the year as the club’s starting second baseman but also figures to spend some time in the outfield, if needed. There’s a chance he opens the season on the injured list if his shoulder isn’t feeling better in time for next week’s opener.

The Rays never got specific about Lux’s upper body issue, but he missed nearly three weeks of spring games, which wouldn’t seem to make for a great first impression. Lux appears to be penciled in as Rays’ second baseman against righties after hitting .269/.350/.374 in more of a utility role for the Reds last year.

The 28-year-old infielder has been working his way through a vague upper body issue. He’s going to take live at-bats on the back fields on Sunday and as long as everything goes well with that session, he’ll be cleared to play on Tuesday. Barring any setbacks, he’ll be at second base for Opening Day.