When Max Muncy first went down on Wednesday night time, clutching his left knee and writhing in ache after a collision with Chicago White Sox baserunner Michael A. Taylor on a steal try at third base, Dodgers normal supervisor Brandon Gomes couldnt assist however let his thoughts go to a darkish place.
Clearly, [there were] quite a lot of feelings, Gomes stated. From a coping mechanism in my head, it was like, OK, hes performed for the yr. Had been gonna have to determine what the subsequent path is. We now have to be ready for no matter is coming.
What got here the subsequent day, nevertheless, was unexpectedly excellent news.
Regardless of having his knee bent awkwardly, gruesomely inward, Muncy escaped with solely a bone bruise. There have been no ligament tears. No structural harm. No season-ending disaster.
Weve had much more [injury situations] the place weve gone in optimistic after which come out the opposite facet not as optimistic, Gomes stated. So it was good to have that turned on its head and know that, Hey, hes gonna be on the market.
On Thursday, Muncy stated he’s anticipated to overlook roughly six weeks. However even that timeline would give him a month-plus earlier than the playoffs to try to rediscover the swing that made him one of many hottest hitters in baseball the previous two months.
And since Muncys harm was to the decrease half of his physique, supervisor Dave Roberts famous, the hope is that its not one thing that ought to have an effect on the swing when he does return.
With the time now we have, theres nothing urgent so far as needing to hurry him again, Roberts stated. I believe had been in a great spot.
Learn extra: Greater than the glasses: How a lightbulb second made Max Muncy a ‘full hitter’ once more
Thats why, as of Friday, Gomes had shelved these contingency plans that had been operating by his thoughts 48 hours earlier. His entrance workplace wasnt urgently scouring the commerce market in search of an immediate alternative.
As a substitute, Gomes and Roberts insisted the Dodgers commerce deadline plans are unlikely to be altered within the wake of Muncys harm with the workforce content material to depend on inner choices now, whereas awaiting Muncys return later this yr.
Understanding the understanding of Max coming again sooner or later, Roberts stated, I dont suppose that can actually influence our considering going into the deadline.
Even when [his recovery] is manner gradual, Gomes added, you’ve got a full month of baseball earlier than we hit the playoffs. So had been giving him that point to get again into a superb place and attempt to set a superb basis, like we attempt to do with all of our guys, to be ready for that stretch run.
Commerce hypothesis surrounding the Dodgers third base place is nothing new.
Earlier this yr, when Muncy was struggling mightily by the opening month of the yr, there have been rising calls from the fanbase for the workforce to discover a extra productive alternative earlier than the July 31 deadline.
Recently, nevertheless, Muncy had quieted such noise with probably the greatest stretches of his profession. Earlier than getting harm, he was batting .308 over his previous 46 video games with 12 dwelling runs, 48 RBIs and extra walks (32) than strikeouts (26).
When hes not within the lineup, Roberts stated, our offense tapers off.
Whether or not Muncy can return to such ranges of manufacturing, in fact, wont develop into clear till nicely after the deadline passes. However discovering influence bats on this years commerce market won’t be a simple activity, particularly at third base.
Nolan Arenado has lengthy been linked to the Dodgers in commerce rumors. However he has career-lows in batting common (.247) and OPS (.701) this yr, and continues to be due some $40 million over the subsequent two-and-a-half seasons on his contract.
Decrease-profile names comparable to Eugenio Suárez, Ryan McMahon and Ramón Urías (who might be a greater roster match for the Dodgers as a utility weapon) may be moved. However the Dodgers wont be determined to overpay for an influence bat understanding Muncy must be again nicely earlier than the beginning of the playoffs.
Clearly, hes been so dialed in, probably the greatest hitters within the recreation during the last six weeks, so theres at all times some [question of], How are we going to get again to that spot? Gomes acknowledged of Muncy.
However I dont suppose that’s one thing that Max has by no means performed earlier than, he added, referencing Muncys potential to contribute to final years World Sequence run regardless of lacking three months within the common season with an indirect harm. So theres a consolation stage. We now have a while. Properly be sure that hes eased again in. We now have sufficient know-how that he can take at-bats and see pitches earlier than he ever has to exit on rehab and is again in a major-league recreation. We must be getting some approximation of what his swing was, after which use that point to get right into a rhythm.
Within the meantime, the Dodgers plan to include Tommy Edman at third base, the place he has 94 profession big-league appearances (largely in 2019 and 2020 with the St. Louis Cardinals, earlier than Arenados arrival there).
Learn extra: Why the Dodgers’ Max Muncy has began carrying glasses in video games: ‘Something that may assist’
Its a place Im comfy with, Edman stated Friday, after taking grounders at third in the beginning of his pregame work. The hops [there] are bizarre, so that you gotta play a little bit bit extra one-handed However its nonetheless the infield. You continue to gotta work on the footwork, identical to you’ll at second and quick. Catching the ball, getting behind your throws. Its quite a lot of the identical ideas.
Kiké Hernández and Miguel Rojas can even see time at third, sometimes towards left-handed pitching, whereas triple-A prospect Alex Freeland may supply depth from the minors if wanted.
Hyeseong Kim, in the meantime, also needs to get a bump in enjoying time at second base on days Edman is at third.
Its gonna be a superb alternative for him, Roberts stated of Kim. Itll be good to know extra and get him some extra expertise.
Learn extra: Hernández: Hyeseong Kim has arrived, and the Dodgers want to verify he’s right here to remain
When the deadline rolls round on the finish of the month, the Dodgers could have extra data to work with not solely on the state of Muncys rehab, but in addition about how their lineup fares with out him.
With a top-five farm system within the sport, in line with MLB Pipeline and Baseball America, they may have the ammunition to make a splash if wanted.
However for now, their expectation is that Muncys harm wont drive them right into a drastic midseason roster makeover. They’re hopeful that what initially seemed to be a season-altering second shall be nothing greater than a brief pace bump of their pursuit of a second consecutive title.
Had been enjoying good baseball as a workforce. Had been in a superb place division-wise proper now, Gomes stated. So if we hold doing that, we are able to climate [Muncys absence].
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This story initially appeared in Los Angeles Instances.