Los Angeles Dodgers veteran Max Muncy hit a hitter in his spring training debut on Thursday.
In the third inning, the third baseman singled to right field and went 1-for-3.
He also struck out in the first inning and struck out in the fifth.
Sep 21, 2025; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy (13) is greeted in the dugout after scoring in the seventh inning against the San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium.
What to expect from Max Muncy heading into 2026?
Muncy was coming off two injury-plagued seasons in which he played in just 173 of a possible 324 regular-season games.
advertise
Despite playing 100 regular season games, he was placed on the injured list twice in 2025.
Muncy slashed .243/.376/.470, though manager Dave Roberts made it clear the third baseman brought tangible and intangible benefits to the team.
“I just love the way Max plays, he gets lost a lot of times because we have so many superstars, but he makes a big impact for us and makes big plays for us and when he’s not in the lineup for some reason, it’s really noticeable on our offense,” Roberts said. “So he’s very valuable to our club.”
To maximize that value, the Dodgers rested key players this offseason.
advertise
“For a lot of us, coming off back-to-back World Series, it was just about prioritizing rest in the offseason. That was a conversation that was had with a couple of guys,” Muncy told Bill Plunkett orange county register. “It’s kind of like, ‘Let your body rest as much as possible. We’re going to start accelerating a little later than normal.'” So, we’re not ready for Week 1. But we still plan on doing over 50 at-bats, which is definitely enough to be prepared. “
Muncy is more than just live production
Above all, however, Muncy was known for his loyalty. He is the longest-tenured player on the Dodgers and has remained with the team by signing deals that benefit the team.
advertise
“I think to me, the thing that characterizes Max the most is he loves being a member of the Dodgers organization and he’s paying less to not challenge free agency because he wants to stay here,” Roberts said. “So to me, you want as many players as possible to be a part of this organization that just want to be here. So that’s something that has tremendous value.”