For the second straight season the Los Angeles Dodgers clinched the National League West much later than they’ve been accustomed to, but Max Muncy and the players celebrated nonetheless.
The Dodgers clinched the division title after playing 159 games, 12 more than it took in 2023 and 18 more than in 2022.
While the organization is headed to the playoffs for a 13th consecutive year, their inconsistent play in 2025 cost them a first-round bye and automatic berth in the NL Division Series. That means they will have to take the long road back to the World Series if they want to defend their title.
But Muncy isn’t focused on what could have been and chose instead to celebrate what the Dodgers accomplished this season.
“It’s amazing. It’s definitely not something I take for granted,” he said. “This year we went through a lot, we had a lot of injuries, maybe guys who didn’t perform up to their abilities, myself included.
“It was a tough year, but we got here in the end. I think it speaks to the resilience of this team.”
For all the reasons the Dodgers struggled this season, overcoming those challenges is also why this division title means a bit more.
“This one kind of means a lot,” Muncy said. “We’ve gone through a lot and then Kersh announced it’s going to be his last one, so this one feels a little bit sweeter. I’ve been through a lot of these, but this one feels really special.”
Max Muncy reflects on the Dodgers’ long journey
Baseball is pretty unique among American sports in that each major milestone of the season, clinching a playoff berth and advancing in October, is celebrated in the clubhouse. Other leagues save the celebrations for winning the championship game.
MLB’s traditions in this regard reflect the grind of a 162-game season.
“This is one of the best parts about baseball, getting to celebrate with your teammates,” Muncy said. “Up to this point you’re talking about seven months when you include Spring Training.
“It was a little bit longer for us because we had to go to Japan and started Spring Training in February. When you get to this point and get to celebrate what you’ve accomplished, it’s unbelievable.”
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