One day last fall, months before he became a first-round draft pick, Gavin Lux sought the opinion of his uncle. Augie Schmidt was a first-round pick in 1982 and had spent nearly three decades coaching Carthage College in their hometown of Kenosha, Wis. Lux longed to play professional baseball, but he had heard rumblings about his scrawny frame and physical immaturity. He wanted his uncle’s take.
Schmidt was honest. Lux was committed to play baseball at Arizona State. That path made sense, Schmidt told his nephew. He should go to college.
“I really thought he was going to have to go mature and get stronger,” Schmidt said.