PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. — Replacing a franchise legend is not easy. Brandon Lowe played for the Tampa Bay Rays for eight seasons, holding down second base and becoming a fan favorite before getting traded this offseason.
What You Need To Know
Brandon Lowe played for the Rays for eight years and was a fan favorite.
After being traded this offseason, the team brought in Gavin Lux to replace him at second base.
Lux comes over from the Reds, where he played with Nick Martinez, who the Rays just signed last week.
Lux also comes in with playoff experience, winning two World Series titles with the Dodgers.
The team later traded for Gavin Lux from the Cincinnati Reds, hypothetically to take over second base. Lux understands he has big shoes to fill but said he is embracing that challenge.
“Yeah, sure, I think I bring a different skillset than him, and he was the fastest second baseman to 100 home runs ever and a very good player,” Lux said. “So I just think coming in here, doing my job and not trying to do anything I’m not capable of and playing my game and helping these guys and win as many games as we can, and I think that’s the main goal.”
Lux comes over from the Reds where he moved around to a few different positions, including some outfield, which he said was a challenge, so he’s excited to get back on the dirt in the infield.
He played with Nick Martinez last year in Cincinnati, who the Rays just signed last week, and they both said they’re excited to play with each other again.
“Gavin’s great man, obviously a proven hitter, he’s got a couple World Series rings, and he knows what it takes to play at that caliber and brings a lot to the clubhouse as well. He’s a heck of an athlete, and he’s always been a pro hitter so that’s been just a staple,” Martinez said.
Lux said of Martinez: “Yeah, he’s awesome, he’s one of my all-time favorite teammates, and the energy he brings every day in the clubhouse in the dugout when he’s not starting, and then he’s a pitcher who can go back and forth between the bullpen and the starting rotation, which is really unique. Not many guys can do that and not miss a beat like he does, so it’s nice to have another familiar face here, and he’s one of my favorite teammates, so he’s gonna help us a lot.”
Lux started his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers and was a member of their 2020 team that beat the Rays in the World Series. He got his second ring in 2024, then helped the Reds get an NL Wild Card spot last October, so he brings some playoff experience to this young clubhouse.
Tuesday was the first day of full squad workouts, so everybody is now in house, getting ready for the Spring Training opener on Saturday at Charlotte Sports Park against the Atlanta Braves.