The focus of Wednesday’s Cactus League game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Texas Rangers was very much about Yoshinobu Yamamoto making his Spring Training debut, and while he impressed, there is some concern with Max Muncy.
Muncy was hit by a pitch in the left hand during the first inning but remained in the game after being checked on by Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and head athletic trainer Thomas Albert. Muncy seemingly fielded a ground ball without issue but was seen on the SportsNet LA broadcast putting on some sort of protective padding.
He continued to play the field until being pinch-hit for by Austin Gauthier to lead off the fourth inning. The Dodgers announced Muncy sustained a left hand contusion.
Following their first loss of the year, manager Dave Roberts said Muncy was going to have an X-ray but downplayed concern despite some swelling in his left ring finger already surfacing, as seen on SportsNet LA:
“He wanted to stay in there as long as he could to play some defense, so that’s a good sign. There’ starting to be some swelling, I think on that ring finger knuckle on the left hand that started to swell up a little bit. I think it could’ve been worse, so we’ll get some clarity once he gets that scan. He was scheduled to be down [Thursday] and then we’ll see the following day.”
Muncy’s lone plate appearance of the day came in the first inning. He entered the game 3-for-6 with one home run and two RBI in Cactus League play thus far. Tuesday was the first time in four games this year that Muncy was playing on back-to-back days.
What would Max Muncy injury mean for Dodgers?
If it’s discovered Muncy sustained a hand injury beyond a contusion, it would require the team to immediately begin tapping into their roster depth.
Chris Taylor and Kiké Hernández are the likely candidates to fill in at third base if Muncy misses extended time, and Miguel Rojas could be an option as well. The Dodgers theoretically could also turn to Miguel Vargas, but he appears to be settling in with playing left field.
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