The Los Angeles Dodgers returned from South Korea last week after splitting the Seoul Series with the San Diego Padres while they are now in the midst of wrapping up their exhibition schedule against the Los Angeles Angels.
The Dodgers earned a 5-3 win over the Angels in the Freeway Series opener, which saw Max Muncy reach base safely in all three of his plate appearances. The 33-year-old continued to swing a hot bat on Monday as he went 2-for-3 with a pair of singles.
“Just trying to get the body back underneath you,” Muncy answered when asked what his focus is in the Freeway Series. “Everyone is still feeling a little out of wack from the flight.
“That’s just part of the nature of the human body, so just trying to get out there, make sure you’re going through your work and getting ready to go for the season.”
Muncy specifically noted that he is trying to keep up with his routines after the long flight from South Korea. “For me, it’s just trying to focus on my routines,” Muncy explained.
“Just keep going out there, getting my work in, trying to focus on things that I can focus on. Trusting that going into a game.”
Muncy has excelled at the plate for most of the spring, hitting .400/.600/.800 with two home runs and four RBI in 10 Cactus League games. He followed that up by going 3-for-9 with a triple and two walks against the Padres during the Seoul Series.
“Just trying to stay within myself and stay small at the plate. Just trying to really hone in my approach and stay back through the middle of the field,” Muncy answered when asked why he has been seeing the ball so well as of late.
“For me, it’s just seeing the ball. Going into the Korea games, being sick that last week (in Arizona), had really a week off from games, plus the flight, so I was a little bit out of rhythm when I was there. So for me, it’s just trying to get back into a rhythm at the plate and seeing the ball.”
Dave Roberts remains confident in Max Muncy’s defense
While Muncy had a good showing offensively against the Padres, the same can’t be said for his defensive work as he made two errors at third base.
Despite this, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts remains confident that Muncy will improve with his glove this season. “He’s worked his tail off with the physical part of it,” Roberts said of Muncy.
“Coming in early, getting a routine down, working with Dino (Ebel) on just being a much better defender than he was last year. I don’t think tonight was indicative of what’s going to happen going forward, but obviously there’s plays that need to be made, for sure.”
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