LOS ANGELES — Max Muncy was positioned on the 10-day injured checklist on Thursday, in the future after exiting a sport following a scary collision within the discipline. However he and the Dodgers breathed a sigh of reduction when the third baseman was identified with a bone bruise in his left knee somewhat than an harm that would finish his season.
An MRI on Muncy’s knee revealed no structural injury, and he’s optimistic that he might be again in motion in round six weeks, give or take.
“It was robust information, however it was additionally nice information,” Muncy stated. “When it comes to if you have a look at the play and simply the harm that would have occurred, we presumably obtained [the] best-case situation.”
Speedy outfielder Esteury Ruiz, who set the American League rookie stolen base file with the A’s in 2023, was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma Metropolis because the corresponding transfer for Muncy’s IL placement. Miguel Rojas and Kiké Hernández will get a number of the enjoying time at third base within the interim.
Supervisor Dave Roberts additionally stated that Tommy Edman would start taking balls at third base, opening the door for Hyeseong Kim to proceed getting alternatives at second in opposition to right-handed beginning pitchers. Edman’s final sport motion on the sizzling nook got here in 2022, and he is made 94 appearances (59 begins) there total.
Muncy went down on a play within the prime of the sixth inning on Wednesday night time. White Sox heart fielder Michael A. Taylor tried to steal third base, however Will Smith made a profitable throw over to Muncy for the second out of the body. Muncy and Taylor collided when the Dodgers’ third baseman utilized the tag, and Muncy grabbed at his left knee after falling to the bottom.
Muncy remained down for a pair minutes earlier than being helped off the sector by a Dodgers coach. He was changed at third base by Hernández, and Taylor later exited the sport as properly with a left entice contusion.
The harm got here simply earlier than Clayton Kershaw struck out the ultimate hitter of the sixth inning, making him the twentieth member of the elusive 3,000-strikeout membership. Now that Muncy is aware of that he averted the worst, lacking that second stings nearly as a lot as being injured.
“The primary thought that truthfully was actually going by means of my head as I am laying on the bottom,” Muncy stated, “was, ‘Dang, I’ve to make Kersh sit there and take into consideration stuff proper now.’ … After which I am within the X-ray room and also you hear the group roar, and it was type of like, ‘Oh, man, I missed it.’
“That was truthfully probably the most heartbreaking factor to me. Clearly, getting damage sucks and lacking time sucks, however to not be capable of be on the market on that discipline with him when he obtained 3,000 was a reasonably large blow.”
After scuffling on the plate by means of the primary month and alter, Muncy emerged as one of many Dodgers’ steadiest bats in Could and June. Since April 30, Muncy slashed .287/.414/.575 with 13 homers and 51 RBIs.
Bone bruises may be tough. The restoration timeline can vary from a couple of weeks to a number of months, relying on the severity. Angels star Mike Trout notably missed solely a month after struggling a bone bruise in his knee earlier this 12 months. Dodgers catcher Will Smith sustained a bone bruise in his ankle in June 2024 that he might nonetheless really feel in Spring Coaching ’25, although he is previous any lingering discomfort now.
Roberts acknowledged that even as soon as Muncy heals to the purpose the place he can safely return to sport motion, he’ll most likely have to handle the harm by means of the tip of the season.
“The therapeutic a part of it’s going to take time,” Roberts stated. “However simply to know that he’ll be again for a great a part of the again finish of the season and past, we’re very relieved.”
