One of baseball’s biggest surprises this season has been Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Max Muncy, who emerged from a non-roster invitee to a breakout star with serious power.
Muncy enters play on Tuesday with career-highs in virtually every statistical category. In 227 plate appearances (61 games), he is hitting .271/.414/.613 with eight doubles, 18 home runs and 36 RBI.
Muncy’s performance thus far is certainly worthy of All-Star consideration, but he isn’t listed on the ballot because he began the season with Triple-A Oklahoma City.
The 27-year-old could hypothetically find his way to the Midsummer Classic as a write-in with strong voting support, though there will be other candidates that garner serious looks as well. He also can be selected as a reserve on the team after the starting lineups are announced.
Regardless of what happens, Muncy is skeptical himself that he’ll have an opportunity to represent the Dodgers in the All-Star Game, via Bill Shaikin of the L.A. Times:
“When I hear that talk, I just kind of laugh at it,” Muncy said. “I don’t think of myself at being at that level yet, even though I’ve had a really good year.”
While Muncy may be viewed as a surprise by the rest of the league, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts no longer considers him that. He praised Muncy for his recent string of success in which he’s put together excellent at-bats against both left-handed and right-handed pitchers.
Muncy recently earned a platoon role at second base with Logan Forsythe, where he’ll receive the majority of his at-bats against right-handed pitching going forward.
Muncy only recently shifted to second base as an effort to keep his bat in the lineup, with Justin Turner back from the disabled list and Chris Taylor thriving at shortstop in the absence of Corey Seager. He has also seen plenty of time at first base given Cody Bellinger’s ability to play the outfield.
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