When the Los Angeles Dodgers signed Max Muncy to a Minor League contract last August the move hardly drew any headlines. He was assigned to Triple-A Oklahoma City and finished out the season with the organization’s top affiliate.
Muncy hit .309/.414/.491 with 20 doubles, 12 home runs and 44 RBI in 104 games for Oklahoma City. That earned him a non-roster invite to Spring Training this year, where Muncy continued to impress.
But his time in camp was interrupted by an oblique strain, and despite a strong showing, Muncy began the season with Oklahoma City. He joined the Dodgers on April 17, and the rest has been history.
Muncy helped fill in for Justin Turner at third base, has since become entrenched at first base and even played some second.
Along with the versatility, Muncy has impressed at the plate. So much so that Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has now come to expect steady production from the 27-year-old, according to Mike DiGiovanna of the L.A. Times:
“It’s really no longer a surprise,” Roberts said. “He’s having good at-bats. Even his last at-bat against Morrow, he takes a 94-mph cut fastball and lines it to right-center. To take a left-hander the other way out of the ballpark, to take couple of walks … in the batter’s box, there’s a lot to like.”
Entering play on Friday, Muncy is batting .266/.410/.615 with eight doubles, 17 home runs and 35 RBI through 58 games (47 starts) for the Dodgers. He’s also stolen two bases without getting caught.
Muncy leads the Dodgers in home runs, though Cody Bellinger is on his heels with 16 homers, as well as slugging percentage and on-base plus slugging (1.026). Meanwhile, he’s fourth on the team in RBI.
Muncy has hit 10 home runs during June, factoring heavily in the Dodgers tying the franchise record for most homers in a calendar month (53) that was set last June.
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