Despite optimism Max Muncy would benefit from rest to recover from a torn ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his left elbow that was suffered on the final day of the regular season, he remained significantly hindered by the injury up until recently.
Muncy strung together quality at-bats during a road trip the Los Angeles Dodgers went 7-1 on. He had a three-game hitting streak during that stretch and slugged his first home run since July 16.
Muncy was out of the Dodgers lineup for the series opener against the San Diego Padres, but returned Saturday night and delivered a go-ahead, three-run home run off Mike Clevinger in the fifth inning. The Dodgers never looked back and went on for an 8-3 victory.
Although Muncy is encouraged by the recent success, he is not allowing that to become a focal point or serve as indication of returning to form.
“It feels a little bit like it, but I can’t focus on that,” he said. “I’ve got to just focus on doing my work every single day, showing up and preparing to do anything I can to help the team win.
“I feel like if I keep doing that and focusing on the right things, that eventually things are going to turn around. Maybe that’s starting, maybe it’s not. I don’t know. Like I said, all I can do is focus on doing what I can to help the team win and preparing the right way.”
Muncy has attributed his turnaround to making changes in his batting stance and swing, and acknowledged seeing results has been a mental boost.
“It’s definitely a little relief,” he said of hitting the home run. “This is a really hard game to not focus on results. But when you’re at a spot where I’m at, you kind of need to see results here and there.
“To have one or two recently has definitely been a huge relief for me. Hopefully I can keep it going.”
In his last nine games, Muncy is 10-for-33 with three doubles, two home runs and six RBI. He’s elevated to the pull side and also gone the other way.
“My body is finally getting into a good position to work my bat path into the ball the correct way,” Muncy said. “It’s definitely shown. I haven’t gotten underneath as many pitches as I was. That was a huge problem for me.
“Getting my bat into the right slot has freed a lot of things up.”
Muncy: Dodgers lineup among best
While Mookie Betts, Trea Turner and Freddie Freeman have led a Dodgers lineup that at times has been top heavy this season, Muncy believes the group collectively has gotten overlooked.
“We’re a really deep lineup. We’re a really, really good lineup,” he said. “It kind of seems like our lineup has been forgotten about with a lot of the stuff that’s been happening. It’s been nice to go out there and prove again we’re one of the best lineups in baseball, and there’s no question about that.”
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