Max Muncy #13 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after striking out against the San Diego Padres during the eighth inning in game three of the National League Division Series at PETCO Park on October 14, 2022 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images)
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts admitted that Max Muncy’s defense has been subpar to start the 2023 season. What’s his outlook for the rest of the year?
The Los Angeles Dodgers once again look like strong candidates to win the National League West, starting the season 4-2 and in first place in the division. But there has been one glaring weakness through the first week of the season: Max Muncy’s defense.
Muncy has committed two errors in five games at third base. On Thursday, in the hours before first pitch against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of Muncy’s defense: “So far, it hasn’t been great.”
Roberts added that it’s a product of the Dodgers’ field being cut and watered differently than in years past, with the unusual weather in Los Angeles playing a key factor in that.
LA rain is to blame for Max Muncy’s poor start with Dodgers
“So the hops are playing differently,” Roberts said. “It’s coming off a little more different than we’re used to. No excuse. And Max is well aware of that. But he’s a good defender. He’s just in a little funk right now.”
Muncy specifically has struggled on balls going to his right, but Roberts downplayed that: “It’s not a weakness. I think, right now, because of the speed variance, he’s in-between. If you look at every single grounder, he’s been in-between on hops and that’s where I think he’s just got to recalibrate. I think it’ll recalibrate itself with the weather.”
Muncy bouncing back, both defensively and offensively, will be key for the Dodgers considering they are shorthanded in the infield. In five games, he’s hitting .150/.261/.300 with one home run and one RBI.