After starting the first half of the season unable to buy a hit, Max Muncy has been tearing the cover off the ball while helping the Los Angeles Dodgers win 12 consecutive games.
While his season average is still at .189, the two-time All-Star is batting .327/.387/.691 over the last 15 games and .423/.464/1.038 with four home runs in his last seven games. During the first half of the season, Muncy was still recovering from the torn UCL he suffered at the end of the 2021 season, and it appears he’s finally moved past that.
But the 31-year-old also made some swing changes while working with the Dodgers’ hitting coaches prior to going on his hot streak.
Muncy’s talent was never a real question and it was always expected he would get back to form, but Dodgers manager Dave Roberts believes hitting coaches have also played a key role in helping Muncy and the rest of the team, as seen on SportsNet LA:
“Here’s what I’ll say. We have a lot of talented players, but I think what gets lost is the coaching staff does a great job in having these guys prepare the right way and perform up to their abilities. So when you’re looking at the years that guys are having, guys on the come — Max Muncy — certainly you have to have talent, but I think there’s other variables too. There’s a lot of teams around the league that have talent that are underperforming. So I think there still needs to be something said for how we go about each day and play.”
The Dodgers are also hoping their coaches can help Joey Gallo, who they acquired from the New York Yankees before the trade deadline. Just a year ago, Gallo was considered one of the top available players, and this season he was a potential candidate to be designated for assignment by the Yankees.
“A year ago he was worth a lot in the industry and got traded for a lot. The true talent level remains,” Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said of Gallo. “We feel like getting him here, getting him with our guys, that there’s a real compelling upside story.
Whether Dodgers hitting coaches Robert Van Scoyoc and Brant Brown can help Gallo as they’ve done with Muncy remains to be seen. But regardless of that, Roberts is confident in the team’s coaching staff, and the results are backed up on the field with an MLB-best 79 wins.
Dodgers coaches helping pitchers
In addition to helping the likes of Muncy, Chris Taylor and Justin Turner have successful careers, Dodgers coaches have also shined on the pitching side.
Their reputation and track record has aided several pitchers, with Tyler Anderson and Andrew Heaney among the latest success stories.
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