Dodgers fans can breathe a sigh of relief! Initial fears of a season-ending injury for Max Muncy after a collision at third base have been allayed. After a scary incident Wednesday night, where Muncy clutched his left knee in pain, early indications pointed towards a potentially devastating outcome.
Dodgers General Manager Brandon Gomes admitted his initial reaction was to prepare for the worst. "Obviously, [there were] a lot of emotions," Gomes said. "From a coping mechanism in my head, it was like, ‘OK, he’s done for the year. We’re gonna have to figure out what the next path is. We have to be prepared for whatever is coming.’”
However, the news the following day was surprisingly positive. Despite the awkward angle of his knee during the collision, Muncy only suffered a bone bruise. Crucially, there were no ligament tears or structural damage, averting what could have been a catastrophic blow to the Dodgers' lineup.
"We’ve had a lot more [injury situations] where we’ve gone in optimistic and then come out the other side not as optimistic," Gomes explained. "So it was nice to have that turned on its head and know that, ‘Hey, he’s gonna be out there.’”
Muncy is expected to miss approximately six weeks. This timeline allows him ample time to recover and regain his form before the playoffs. Manager Dave Roberts expressed optimism that the injury, being to the lower half of his body, shouldn't negatively impact his swing upon his return. "With the time we have, there’s nothing pressing as far as needing to rush him back," Roberts stated. "I think we’re in a good spot.”
The Dodgers can now focus on their trade deadline plans, knowing that Muncy will be back in the lineup soon, ready to contribute to their playoff push.