Gavin Lux, Dustin May to represent Dodgers at 2019 Futures Game

It was announced on Friday that infielder Gavin Lux and right-handed pitcher Dustin May will represent the Dodgers in the 2019 Futures Game.

Traditionally, the Futures Game had been held the Sunday before the All-Star Game and was USA vs. World. Well, it’s still being held on the Sunday before the break, but the format has changed to American League vs. National League. Yet the biggest and most curious change is the fact the powers that be have shortened the game to seven innings. I get that it’s an exhibition game, but I don’t fully understand shortening the game by two innings. Oh well.

But let’s get back to Lux and May. These were pretty easy choices considering Keibert Ruiz was one of two prospects to represent LA last year, and his slow start to the season plus both squads being able to find three legitimate backstops meant Ruiz was off the hook for this year.

Lux and May were both promoted to Triple-A (along with DJ Peters) following the Texas League All-Star Game earlier this week, and really, they’re the two best prospects in the system so it makes sense for them to be in this position.

Lux is hitting .318/.378/.527 and went 3-for-5 in his first Triple-A game on Thursday. He has played mostly shortstop this season, but he is plenty adept at second base, should he need to play the pivot.

May had a 3.74 ERA, 3.22 FIP and a 19.8 K-BB% with Double-A Tulsa. He’s scheduled to make his first start for the Triple-A OKC Dodgers on Sunday.

Here’s a complete list of the prospects to represent the Dodgers in the Futures Game since its inception in 1999:

1999 – Chin-Feng Chen, Luke Prokopec
2000 – Chen, Randey Dorame
2001 – Ricardo Rodriguez
2002 – Victor Diaz, Rodriguez
2003 – Franklin Gutierrez, Edwin Jackson
2004 – Joel Guzman, Koyie Hill
2005 – Andy LaRoche, Russell Martin
2006 – Guzman, Chin-Lung Hu
2007 – Clayton Kershaw, Hu (MVP)
2008 – Ivan De Jesus
2009 – Pedro Baez
2010 – Baez, Dee Gordon
2011 – Alfredo Silverio
2012 – Chris Reed
2013 – Joc Pederson
2014 – Corey Seager, Julio Urias
2015 – Kyle Farmer, Juan Gonzalez
2016 – Willie Calhoun, Jharel Cotton
2017 – Yadier Alvarez, Alex Verdugo
2018 – Yusniel Diaz, Keibert Ruiz
2019 – Gavin Lux, Dustin May

There certainly are some names on that list.

Anyway, this is a nice honor for the Dodgers’ top prospects. Here’s hoping they perform well on the big stage.

The Futures Game is July 7 at 4 p.m. Pacific time.