The Los Angeles Dodgers place a strong emphasis on depth and are reaping the benefits during Cactus League play, receiving contributions from a plethora of under-the-radar type players.
Among those that are making an impact in the early going is Max Muncy, who returned to the organization on a Minor League contract last August. He was one of the several players to receive a non-roster invitation to Spring Training.
Muncy, who is in the midst of an offensive breakout, last appeared in a game on March 2 against the Chicago Cubs. That’s for good reason, however, as it was recently revealed that he’s battling with a mild oblique strain.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts is disappointed that Muncy will be sidelined for the time being and is eager to get him back on the field, per Andy McCullough of the L.A. Times:
“It’s disappointing for him, for us, because he was really having a good camp,” manager Dave Roberts said. “He can do a lot of things, on both sides of the field. He’s a guy that for me, for us to see him, that was good — but we’ve got to get him back to health.”
Over 15 trips to the plate, Muncy is batting .286/.333/.571 with a pair of doubles and one triple. He owns 245 career Major League plate appearances under his belt, serving as a utility player for the Oakland Athletics from 2015-16.
Muncy figures to begin the season with Triple-A Oklahoma City, but could very well receive a promotion at some point in the year, given his defensive versatility and previous MLB experience.