Apr 30, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy (13) gets a sunflower seed shower after hitting a solo home run in the first inning against the Miami Marlins at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Dodgers All-Star Opens Up on 'Emotional' Home Run

Originally posted on Los Angeles Dodgers on SI
By Nelson Espinal | Last updated May 2, 2025 5:30 PM ET

Dodgers infielder Max Muncy went 2-for-4 in Los Angeles' victory over the Miami Marlins on Wednesday, hitting his first home run of the year along with a triple.

It marked one of Muncy's strongest games so far in 2025, a season filled with low points. He is batting .194/.309/301 this season, with only four RBIs.

Muncy has been a below-replacement-level player so far, with a -0.1 WAR, raising concerns among fans about his sluggish start to his 10th season in the majors at the age of 34.

In the 29 games he has played, Muncy holds a career-high strikeout rate of 31.8 percent, a below-average run creation rate, and overall abysmal offensive numbers.

His performance against Miami could signal a turning point for the Dodgers' fan favorite, as he finally notched his first dinger of the year.

Max Muncy crushes this pitch 433 feet for his first home run of the season! pic.twitter.com/cb9aognoBK
— MLB (@MLB) April 30, 2025

“It was huge for me,” Muncy after the game.

“Almost a little emotional. This clubhouse is very tight, it’s very close. Everyone cares about each other in here and we all just want to win.

“For us to win, everyone needs to be clicking. It’s something this whole clubhouse buys into. Just to get that kind of greeting, it felt amazing.”

Muncy is a streaky hitter who can get hot and stay hot quickly, inspiring some optimism that he can turn around his season.

His approach at the plate is not overly aggressive, as he has only a 22.7 percent chase rate, which is in the 79th percentile. What he is really struggling with is his whiff rate, which stands at 27.7 percent, placing him in the 33rd percentile.

His bat speed is only in the 42nd percentile, which indicates that his swing is slower and that he is late getting to pitches, though his eye remains as sharp as ever.

Also, there isn't any panic setting in, which means if he keeps himself in check and steady while adjusting his swing to speed it up, Muncy could see more success and become a key contributor on a team that needs to support its stars.

This article first appeared on Los Angeles Dodgers on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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