Max Muncy Still Working To Improve Third Base Defense Since Knee Injury

The Los Angeles Dodgers received a boost on Monday when Max Muncy was activated off the 10-day injured list prior to their series opener against the St. Louis Cardinals.

The two-time All-Star missed roughly a month while recovering from a bone bruise in his left knee. At the time of the injury, he estimated the recovery period would be six weeks.

Muncy wound up returning ahead of schedule and has looked impressive in his first two games back with the Dodgers.

The 34-year-old went 4-for-5 with a pair of home runs and four RBI in the team’s 12-6 win over the Cardinals on Tuesday. He also tested his knee by running from first base to third on a single by Michael Conforto in the eighth inning.

“It was good,” Muncy said of getting to move around the bases. “Still not moving as good as I would like on the defensive side, but that’s going to come.

“Getting first to third, that was big for me, and more importantly was getting the slide in. I think that was actually my first slide since I got hurt, so it’s good to know nothing is going to break when you slide.”

Not all was smooth sailing for Muncy as he committed an error at third base in the second inning that led to two unearned runs being charged to Emmet Sheehan. Muncy also wasn’t able to get to a chopper hit to his left that carried through the infield for a single.

“Just not quite getting off the ball as quick as I would like,” Muncy explained. “That’s the thing that I do really well, is I get off the ball quick.

“The one ball tonight, I wasn’t quite able to reach, and that’s one I felt like I should’ve had. You’ve got to keep getting out there and keep getting the knee underneath you.”

Max Muncy’s 2025 season

After recording a season-high four hits on Tuesday, Muncy is now batting .258/.380/.481 with 10 doubles, two triples, 15 home runs and 59 RBI in 83 games this season.