Dodgers: Max Muncy Working to Get Back to Normal with Extra BP

The Dodgers were the first team in baseball to reach the 20 win mark. While they lead the league in multiple offensive categories, a pair of important sluggers have struggled over the first half of 2020.

Cody Bellinger, the reigning NL MVP, isn’t having the follow-up campaign he was hoping for. However, he’s showing signs of a return to form over the last week while slashing .321/.424/.786 with 4 home runs and 8 runs batted in.

Meanwhile, America’s Slugger Max Muncy has struggled mightily this year — particularly in August where he’s slashing only .136/.237/.273 in 19 games. With that, he was putting in more work at Dodger Stadium ahead of the middle game of a three-game set with the Rockies.

Max Muncy took some additional BP off of a Dodger minor leaguer who came over from USC to throw to him at Dodger Stadium.

— Dodgers Nation (@DodgersNation) August 22, 2020

Manager Dave Roberts mentioned that right-hander Edubray Ramos was the pitcher who threw batting practice to Muncy as he looked to get some extra work in. When asked about Muncy’s struggles potentially stemming from the broken finger he sustained early in summer camp at Dodger Stadium, Doc said it’s certainly a possibility. 

I think it’s part of it too. To have a broken finger, to not being able to get to balls on the inner part of the plate — to be able to fire on them — there might be something to that. Typically, he really handles the ball close to him really well. This year not as much. Certainly, that could have seeped into his mind, but now that we’re past the pain hopefully we can get past the mental hurdle.

Beyond the finger, Roberts also feels that Muncy’s issues have been a blend of mental and mechanic, saying that’s he’s been caught thinking along with pitchers and getting beat more often. Hopefully added works pays off for Mad Max.

NEXT: Dave Roberts Unsure if Los Angeles Needs to Make Moves Ahead of the Trade Deadline