The Los Angeles Dodgers transferred Max Muncy to the 60-day injured list in a corresponding move to activating Kyle Hurt, who was immediately optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Hurt himself had been on the 60-day IL since April 27. That came one week after the Dodgers put Hurt on the 15-day injured list due to right shoulder inflammation. His IL stint was backdated to April 17, though the Dodgers anticipated a lengthy absence.
That was not necessarily expected to be the case with Muncy, who had been on the 10-day injured list since May 17 because of a right oblique strain. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts described Muncy’s oblique injury as mild and believed it was possible he would be activated after missing the minimum number of days required.
“I think we got ahead of it,” Roberts said at the time. “So certainly an IL as far as giving him a handful of days to recover. I’m sure he’s not going to swing a bat for two or three days, and then the hope is he’ll be back online on the 11th day.”
Muncy was cleared to begin fielding ground balls and taking batting practice, which he did so twice before feeling the effects of swinging. The Dodgers didn’t have a timeline for Muncy’s return at that point, but he eventually overcame the setback to begin taking dry swings around the middle of June.
However, more discomfort lingered and those were paused as well, along with all other rotational work. Muncy was seen fielding ground balls before Friday’s game against the Los Angeles Angels, but he refrained from throwing across the diamond.
The 33-year-old will not only need to begin doing that, but also start taking swings once again before building up to live batting practice and an eventual rehab assignment with a Dodgers’ Minor League affiliate.
When can Max Muncy return to Dodgers?
The earliest date Muncy can be activated off the 60-day injured list is Tuesday, July 16.
Muncy has hit .223/.323/.475 with eight doubles, nine home runs and 28 RBI in just 40 games this season.
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