The Los Angeles Dodgers have dealt with injuries for a majority of the season, but in a rare turn of events, received some good news regarding one of their sidelined players.
Manager Dave Roberts revealed Max Muncy’s recovery from a bone bruise in his left knee has been going well and the third baseman is trending in the right direction.
“Brandon McDaniel, one of our coaches, was at home yesterday and he talked to him,” Roberts said. “(Muncy) is already on the bike, his spirits are up, he’s moving around. I don’t know the timeline but just encouraged he’s making some good progress.
Muncy sustained the injury when Chicago White Sox outfielder Michael A. Taylor slid into his knee while trying to steal third base on July 2.
The Dodgers will be without their starting third baseman for six weeks while he is on the injured list. In Muncy’s absence, the Dodgers have mainly used Miguel Rojas and Tommy Edman at the hot corner.
Kiké Hernandez and Rojas were supposed to split starts at third with versus left-handed pitchers, but the utility man was sidelined by an elbow injury.
Muncy’s absence from the Dodgers lineup has been evident as the offense had gone cold amid the team’s seven-game losing streak.
Prior to landing on the IL, Muncy slashed .319/.442/.659 while hitting nine home runs and 31 RBIs in his last 30 games.
Thankfully, the Dodgers third baseman is expected to make his return in the coming weeks. There was speculation the front office would turn to the trade market to find a replacement for Muncy, but general manager Brandon Gomes revealed the Dodgers won’t have to add to their trade deadline plans.
“We’ve had a lot more [injury situations] where we’ve gone in optimistic and then come out the other side not as optimistic,” Gomes said. “So it was nice to have that turned on its head and know that, ‘Hey, he’s gonna be out there.’”
Photo Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images
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