Thursday, February 22, 2024
Copyrighted by Sarah Morris, 2024
Last season, Max Muncy was a disappointing third baseman for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He still produced offensively. When Gavin Lux is slated to be the starting shortstop, many Dodger fans worry about Muncy’s defense at third base.
Since 2018, Muncy has been a Los Angeles Dodger mainstay. Before becoming a Dodger, he was a struggling Oakland Athletic infielder who was released. He was sitting on the couch and pondering about returning to Baylor University when the Dodgers called.
During the 2018 season, Muncy was instrumental to the Dodgers’ return to the World Series. His thirteenth-inning game-tying home run and eighteenth-inning game-winning homer during Game 3 in the World Series against the Boston Red Sox, and then, the Dodgers ultimately lost the series.
In 2019, Muncy became an All-Star for the first time, but his season was cut short by a broken wrist.
During the abbreviated 2020 season, Muncy struggled offensively after signing a three-year contract extension but played an integral role in the Dodger World Championship.
The 2021 season was Muncy’s best season. He hit .249 with 36 home runs and 94 RBI while playing Gold Glove-caliber defense at first base. During the last game of the regular season, Muncy dislocated his elbow and missed the postseason. To me, if the Dodgers had Muncy during the 2021 playoffs, the Dodgers might have won back-to-back world championships.
Because of his injured elbow, Muncy started the 2022 season slowly. The Freddie Freeman’s signing displaced him. He split time at third base with the right-handed veteran Justin Turner. Third base was Muncy’s least favorite position, but characteristically, he didn’t complain.
During the 2022, Muncy signed a contract extension until 2024. He finished the 2022 season with a career-low batting average of .196 with 21 homers and 69 RBI while he struggled defensively.
In 2023, Muncy bounced back from his poor offensive season but still was a below-average third baseman. He hit .212 with 36 homers and a career-high 105 RBI. He signed a two-year contract extension.
This offseason Muncy tried to gain confidence in his fielding. He transformed his body.
