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Dodgers' Max Muncy Makes Fan Announcement Amid Pressure

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jon Conahan | Last updated May 8, 2025 3:00 PM ET

Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, and some other cities let players have it when they aren't playing at the level they're expected to.

That could be said for Los Angeles Dodgers veteran Max Muncy, who is having one of his worst years as a professional. For Muncy, things aren't easy for him at the plate right now, but he's hoping that his new glasses, after an eye diagnosis, will help him figure things out offensively.

Still, Muncy has taken some scrutiny during the early stages of the campaign. He’s taken heat from fans, as recently seen on video with a fan yelling at him while arriving on the team bus.

Muncy spoke with reporters about that situation, and instead of making excuses about his play, he said he recognizes how difficult it is to play in Los Angeles.

“Playing in L.A. is not easy,” Muncy said, per The Athletic. “The fans want to win. They expect to win. They expect to be great. When you’re not being great, there’s an expectation with that. It wasn’t always necessarily me that was feeling that pressure. It was my family.

“That’s one of the things that’s tough about social media these days. People feel like they can say whatever they want to say, and they don’t realize who it’s hurting the most. I signed up for this life. I understand that if you play bad, they’re going to have opinions. And it’s warranted. But when you’re hearing from your family about certain things that are being said to them, that’s when it gets tough for me.”

It's tough to get too concerned with a player of Muncy’s caliber. While the 34-year-old is playing at a very below-average level, striking out 43 times in 113 at-bats and hitting just .177, he's been a staple in this Dodgers lineup for much of the past decade.

Outside of some injuries, he's been excellent, evident by his 36 home run showing in 2023.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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