Los Angeles, California — Max Muncy, third baseman for the Los Angeles Dodgers, expressed relief Thursday after receiving favorable news from an MRI on his left knee, revealing no structural damage. Despite the positive diagnosis, Muncy is expected to be sidelined for approximately six weeks due to a bone bruise, leading to his placement on the injured list.
“It was a huge sigh of relief to hear that nothing was torn or ripped,” Muncy said, visibly cautious in his movements. “But six weeks still sounds like a long time to me.”
The injury occurred during Wednesday’s game against the Chicago White Sox when Muncy collided with center fielder Michael A. Taylor while attempting to tag him out on a steal. Following the collision, Muncy fell to the ground and required assistance to leave the field, struggling to put any weight on his left leg.
Reflecting on the situation, Muncy acknowledged the severity of what could have happened. “It was tough news, but when you consider the potential for a more serious injury, it’s good that it wasn’t worse,” he noted.
Taylor, who sustained a bruised back in the collision, was also tended to by a White Sox trainer but passed concussion protocols. He remained sore and was absent from Chicago’s lineup the following night.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts conveyed his relief regarding Muncy’s MRI results, admitting he opted not to watch the incident replay due to its potential severity. “I focused on the positive outcome,” Roberts said.
In Muncy’s absence, Miguel Rojas started in the series finale against the White Sox, while Enrique Hernandez is slated to take over at third base for the upcoming series against the Houston Astros. Utility player Tommy Edman has begun taking grounders as he prepares to join the roster in a supportive role.
Muncy’s injury drew additional attention as it occurred just before Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw notched his 3,000th career strikeout, creating a brief delay on the field. “I felt bad knowing I was making Kersh wait while I was down there,” Muncy admitted. “It was incredibly disheartening to hear the crowd cheer for him while I was in the X-ray room.”
As of now, Muncy has recorded a batting average of .250, hitting 13 home runs and driving in 55 runs over 81 games this season. To bolster their roster during Muncy’s absence, the Dodgers recalled outfielder Esteury Ruiz from Triple-A Oklahoma City, where he boasted impressive statistics of a .292 batting average with 8 homers, 37 RBIs, and 38 stolen bases in 66 games. Ruiz, who joined the Dodgers in a trade with the Athletics earlier this year, is anticipated to see action this weekend.