Dodgers News: MLB Writer Expects Max Muncy to Bounce Back in 2023
Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy had quite the down year in 2022 -- I think everyone knows that by now. After hitting at least 35 home runs in 2018, 2019 and 2021, Muncy had just 21 in 2022, and had a rough average of just .196. His OPS of .713 was the worst of his Dodger career.
Muncy, however, was coming back from the elbow injury he suffered in the final game of the 2021 season, and didn't have his normal offseason of work. Now, though, he had a strong offseason, a great spring and was looking to start the 2023 season off with a bang.
While he hasn't exactly had much success yet -- he's 1-for-16 with nine strikeouts to start the year -- that hasn't deterred Zachary D. Rymer of Bleacher Report from picking him as one of his top bounce back candidates for the 2023 season. Here's what he had to say.
Muncy otherwise retained some of the hallmarks of his earlier success, including a chase rate in the 100th percentile and marks for exit velocity, hard contact and barrels that were all above average. Really the only downside was that he probably hit too many balls in the air.
The shift ban could be just what the left-handed swinger needs to solve that. He's understandably happy about not having to worry about always having to hit the ball over or through a wall of defenders, hinting that it "simplifies the approach a little bit."
I think many Dodger fans were expecting a bounce back season from the 32-year-old, and this slow start isn't exactly what they were hoping for. However, there's no reason to give up on him yet, as it could just take a few good swings to get him out of a slump and back on track.
Dave Roberts isn't going to take Muncy out of the lineup anytime soon, so expect him to continue getting opportunities in the cleanup spot. And sooner or later, he's going to turn on one, and get his bounce back campaign truly underway.
