Although Max Muncy sustained a dislocated left elbow and torn ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) on the final day of the 2021 regular season, he did not require Tommy John surgery and has been on the active roster since Opening Day.
Muncy did admit early into Spring Training that his damaged left elbow likely would not make a full recovery until some time next year. Although Muncy has not used the injury as an excuse for his slow start this season, it’s presumed by many to be playing a part.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts moved Muncy down in the lineup for a stretch of games but it didn’t amount to improved results.
Ongoing struggles and new discomfort now has the Dodgers considering putting Muncy on the 10-day injured list, which Roberts explained is why Kevin Pillar is on the taxi squad and with the team in Arizona, via SportsNet LA:
“Kevin is on the taxi. There’s some potential things we’re trying to sift through with injury. One being Max Muncy, where obviously we all know he’s grinding with the arm issue. The other day in D.C., the first night, hitting it against the wall, it just kind of shook it up a little bit. So I’m going to give him some time off to reset the arm. He’s hitting extra, and I don’t know if there’s some aggravation in there, so we just need to temper back a little bit.”
Pillar signed a Minor League contract with the Dodgers during Spring Training and believes the organization is the best fit at this stage in his career. Pillar had a strong showing during the spring but began the season with Triple-A Oklahoma City.
He’s continued to hit well in the Minors and in particular enjoyed success against left-handed pitching, which has remained a trouble spot for the Dodgers.
Muncy aggravated elbow
When the Dodgers were at Nationals Park earlier in the week, Muncy made an attempt to catch a fly ball hit to foul territory just off third base. His left arm bent into the protective netting and forearm hit a metal frame of a door.
Muncy briefly hunched over in pain and grabbed at his arm but remained in the game.
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