Dodgers News: Dave Roberts Thinks Detractors Will Fuel Max Muncy
Max Muncy enters 2023 as one of the biggest X-factors for the Dodgers. Last year, Muncy struggled for most of the season, and the Dodgers missed his power and hitting in the lineup. This year, the Dodgers suffered some key losses, so they’ll need Muncy to be himself more than ever.
Muncy knows that he needs to get back to playing at an elite level. He also knows that people have somewhat forgot about him in the Dodgers lineup. But Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told the media that Muncy just feeds off of those doubters (per Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic).
“He’s not blind to people, in his mind, writing him off for 2023,” Roberts said. “He’s a player that works better when he’s got a chip on his shoulder. So I do think for this year, he feels as though he’s the forgotten man. That’s a good thing for the Dodgers.”
Muncy came out of nowhere for the Dodgers in 2018 when he crushed 35 home runs and drove in 79 RBIs. Then, one year later, he was even better, hitting 35 home runs again but driving in an incredible 98 RBIs.
Then, after a dominant 2021 season that saw him hit a career-high 36 home runs, he got hurt on the final day of the regular season, and was struggling to get back in 2022. While he still had 21 home runs last season, he hit just .196. But this year, Muncy is fully removed from that injury, had a normal offseason and feels ready to get back to being himself.
No one’s really talking about him as the two-time All-Star in that lineup, but Roberts says that’s okay. Muncy plays best when no one thinks he’s going to, so let the doubters keep ruling him out. Just don’t be surprised when he hits another 30 home runs this season, and is a key piece of the Dodgers’ success in 2023.
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