Los Angeles Dodgers: Three biggest losers of Spring Training thus far
By Jason Reed
3. Max Muncy
We really did not want to include all position players in this list but it was hard to find a pitcher that was an outright loser this spring. I guess you could make the case that Clayton Kershaw is a loser because of his injury setbacks but that does not seem just.
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There are some relievers with high ERAs, such as Pedro Baez, who has a 9.00 ERA in spring. However, that is across just two appearances worth an inning each. Two runs in two innings is not ideal but is not enough to call him a loser this spring.
Thus, we transition back to the offensive side of things and go with another power-hitting left-handed bat in Max Muncy. Like his counterpart Joc Pederson, Muncy has not been great this spring, although he has been better than Pederson.
Muncy did hit a two-run double on Sunday against the Rockies to improve his overall stat line for the spring but still has not been great thus far. In 29 plate appearances, Muncy has a .217 average with four walks, four RBIs and seven strikeouts.
A 24.1 percent strikeout rate is not absolutely terrible in today’s game but is more noticeable when Muncy is lacking his power. While his double on Sunday would have been a home run if it was not for the massive center field wall, which serves as the batting eye, Muncy has a disappointing .304 slugging percentage thus far.
He also has not been exceptionally great at first base defensively.
Muncy still has not lost his job, though, as David Freese is not lighting the world on fire and is better suited as the veteran backup. However, Muncy has been drastically outperformed by minor leaguer Matt Beaty, who could squeeze his way into a roster spot off the bench.
dark. Next. Biggest winners of spring training thus far
Muncy has some time to turn this around but this could be the start of a slump after his breakout year, something Dodger fan saw last season with Chris Taylor.