Injury Update: The Dodgers are facing a major long-term setback, As no known date of return for the injured starting pitcher.

June 5, 2024 ajibnews SPORTS 0

MLB: Milwaukee Brewers at Los Angeles Dodgers — Oct 3, 2021; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Max Muncy (13) yells in pain after he injured his left arm as he made a tag on Milwaukee Brewers second baseman Jace Peterson (14) off a throw from Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Trea Turner (6) in the third inning of the game at Dodger Stadium. Muncy left the game. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Max Muncy has been on the 10-day injured list since May 17 because of a right oblique strain. While the Los Angeles Dodgers initially expressed hope that he would only miss the minimum amount of time, that did not transpire.

Soon after Dodgers manager Dave Roberts hinted that Muncy may soon start a rehabilitation assignment, he began to experience more pain in his right oblique.

According to Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times, the 33-year-old acknowledged that he experienced a setback following two positive days of batting practice and infield drills.

“It felt great. It felt normal. I was taking ground balls and throwing across the infield and didn’t feel a thing, so we progressed to swinging,” Muncy said Sunday. “I had two good days of full batting practice, where I didn’t feel anything at all. And then the third day, it flared up. It’s one of those things where my body was telling me to slow things down.”

Due to the unpredictable nature of an oblique injury, Muncy stated that he does not have a set schedule for returning to baseball activity.

“We’re just sitting here,” Muncy said. “I don’t think anybody has a timetable, because we can’t really put one on it. [An oblique strain] is probably the worst injury you can have as a position player because you can’t do anything. You can’t strengthen it. You can’t strengthen the area around it. You can’t do anything with the rest of your body because you have to involve your core to do that. You have to just sit and let it heal, and that’s where we’re at.”

During the 2021 season, Muncy sustained an injury similar to this one, but he was able to recover in just ten days. This time, that won’t be the case because Muncy will be out for an extended period of time.

The two-time All-Star was hitting before getting hurt.In 40 games this season, he is batting 223/.323/.475 with eight doubles, nine home runs, 26 RBI, and a 123 wRC+. At third base, he leads the group with four defensive runs saved.
How are the Dodgers going to replace Max Muncy?

In lieu of Muncy, the Dodgers have rotated Kiké Hernández, Chris Taylor, and Miguel Rojas at third base, with Hernández seeing the most of the starts.