Reds utilityman Gavin Lux is set to receive his World Series ring before the opening game of a three-game series in Los Angeles against the Dodgers, the team with whom he spent the first years of his career before being traded to Cincinnati in January.
Lux will be honored in a pregame ceremony on Aug. 25, the day before the Reds and Dodgers renew their NL rivalry. He’ll be presented the ring by former Dodgers teammates, adding a personal milestone to a season that has sent him back to the Dodgers’ longtime home in a Reds uniform.
Lux is the only Reds player currently on the roster with a World Series ring. He also has a Dodgers crown from the 2020 championship, though he was a rookie and not on the World Series roster that year. The field of play is different now, but Lux hasn’t forgotten what it took to reach the sport’s highest stage, and the moment comes at a time when Cincinnati is chasing a final NL wild-card berth.
“I’m excited. I’ve only seen pictures of it,” Lux said, referring to the ring. “That’ll be cool.” He anticipates being handed the ring by former teammates, a reminder of a team’s past success as his current club pushes for its own October run.
Lux’s return to the spotlight with the Reds comes after a strong second half last season, during which he rebuilt strength from a knee injury that sidelined him in 2023. Cincinnati’s front office targeted him as part of a broader infusion of young veterans with postseason experience after hiring two-time champion manager Terry Francona.
Whether the Reds can make a deep October run will depend in part on Lux’s performance and leadership, especially against the defending champs. If Cincinnati can get hot in October, Lux believes the path to success is clear: “It’s whoever’s hot. And it’s a crapshoot. Once you get in, all bets are off. Especially with our pitching—nobody’s going to want to face a young team with nothing to lose and really good starting pitching.”
Lux’s presence adds an extra layer of motivation for a Reds club that views the playoffs as a real goal rather than a checklist item. For a team hoping to emulate recent upsets in the postseason—where teams that scraped into the field surprised deeper contenders—the ring ceremony serves as a tangible reminder of what’s possible when a club plays with confidence and purpose.
Commentary and outlook: The ceremony sits at a meaningful crossroads for Cincinnati, offering a sentimental boost as the Reds chase a final playoff spot. Lux’s veteran perspective and firsthand experience in October could help guide a talented but still-learning group through a pivotal stretch of the schedule. If the Reds can translate that momentum into wins, the ring moment could become a symbol of what’s within reach for this young, ambitious roster.