Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Max Muncy certainly hasn’t had the kind of stellar season this year that he had in 2021.
Last year, he slashed .249/.368/.527 with a .895 OPS and hit 36 homers, with 94 RBI.
The 2022 campaign hasn’t been as kind: he is hitting .188/.326/.377 with a .703 OPS, and for much of the season, he looked off at the plate.
Those days, however, are well in the rearview mirror.
“Max Muncy MLB ranks since August 1st: 1.418 OPS (1st); 5 HR (2nd); .543 ISO (1st); 62.5% Hard Hit % (1st); 284 wRC+ (1st). Dodgers are finally getting Maximum Muncy again. He’s BACK,” Dodgers Nation’s Doug McKain tweeted.
Max Muncy MLB ranks since August 1st:
🔥 1.418 OPS (1st)
🔥 5 HR (2nd)
🔥 .543 ISO (1st)
🔥 62.5% Hard Hit % (1st)
🔥 284 wRC+ (1st)Dodgers are finally getting Maximum Muncy again. He’s BACK. pic.twitter.com/vD5PFdbbIm
— Doug McKain (@DMAC_LA) August 15, 2022
After waiting for months for him to get back on track, the Dodgers are finally enjoying a healthy and effective Muncy.
The Dodgers’ Patience With Muncy Is Paying Off
Patience has its benefits most of the time.
In his last seven games, the left-handed slugger and former MVP candidate is slashing .417/.500/.958 with three home runs and seven RBI.
He has also been fantastic in his last 15 contests, hitting .340/.419/.736 with five round-trippers.
He may not have enough time to finish with numbers similar to those of last season, but that won’t matter to the Dodgers as long as he can maintain his current level of performance until after the playoffs are over.
Muncy is actually the poster boy for the Dodgers’ model of success: he wasn’t a highly regarded prospect when he came through the minor leagues.
However, the team gave him the tools and guidance to be the best version of himself, and that’s what happened with him.
In the first few months of the 2022 season, he didn’t play in accordance to that version.
He is getting there now, and with the Dodgers all but assured a place in the postseason, keeping him hot is the priority.
