If you were to ask most baseball fans, not just Dodger fans, a year ago – heck, even three months ago – who Max Muncy was, chances are exceptionally good that their reply would have been “Who?”

But if you were to ask those same baseball fans today who he is, their answer might be “He’s that guy who (along with Cody Bellinger) leads the Dodgers in home runs,” … and they’d be right.

Maxwell Steven Muncy, who was born in Midland, Texas on August 25, 1990, was selected by the Oakland Athletics in the fifth round of the 2012 MLB First-Year Player Draft out of Baylor University in Waco, Texas. After spending three seasons in the A’s minor league system, the 6′-0″ / 210-pound utility infielder / outfielder made his major league debut on April 25, 2015.

It did not go well.

In the 96 games in which he appeared with the A’s over parts of the 2015 and 2016 seasons, Muncy posted a subpar slash-line of .195 / .290 / .321 for and OPS of .611, which ultimately led to him being designated for assignment on March 31, 2017.

Fortunately for the Dodgers, the Oakland A’s Advanced Single-A affiliate is the Stockton Ports, who are members of the highly competitive California League – the same league to which the Dodgers Advanced Single-A affiliate Rancho Cucamonga Quakes belong. As such, then director of player development and current Philadelphia Phillies manager Gabe Kapler was very well aware that Muncy was leading the Cal League with his 21 home runs and 76 RBI when he was promoted to Oakland’s Double-A affiliate Midland RockHounds during the 2013 season.

Lo and behold, when Muncy was let go by the A’s prior to spring training 2017, he was scooped up by the Dodgers less than a month later on April 28, 2017 and was assigned to the Triple-A Oklahoma City Dodgers following spring training.

It was here that the real Max Muncy showed up.

In his 109 games with the OKC Dodgers, Muncy slashed .309 / .414 / .491 for an outstanding .905 OPS. Along the way, he slugged 20 doubles, one triple, and 12 home runs, while driving in 44 runs; all of which earned him a non-roster invitation to the Dodgers major league spring training camp this past spring.

In the seven major league spring training games in which he appeared, Munch went 4-for-14 (.286), with two doubles, one triple, and zero home runs; all of which landed him back at OKC to begin the 2018 season.

And then Dodgers third baseman pro tem Logan Forsythe (who was filling in while Dodgers regular third baseman Justin was recovering from his fractured wrist) landed on the disabled list with shoulder inflammation.

When that happened, the Dodgers called up utility infielder Breyvic Valera. When they did, Muncy filled in behind him at OKC. But whereas Valera hit a less-than-stellar .172 with the LA Dodgers, Muncy hit a very good .313 with the OKC Dodgers, this in addition to his .421 on-base percentage and .563 slugging percentage for an excellent .984 OPS. As a result, the extremely soft-spoken Midland, Texas native finally made it back to the Show, receiving his call-up to the Dodgers on April 17, 2018, a full 16 games into the season.

The rest, as they say, is history.

During the Dodgers just-concluded six-game road trip, Muncy slugged two home runs. He added another on Wednesday night against the Chicago Cubs at Dodger Stadium. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

In addition to his 16 home runs, Muncy has also hit eight doubles and has driven in 34 runs. But perhaps his most notable statistic (aside from his home runs, of course) are his team-leading 39 walks. In essence, Muncy either hits a home run or walks in nearly every at-bat. In fact, he currently hits a home run once every 10.375 at-bats and walks every 5.308 plate appearances.

THIS is who Max Muncy is.

Play Ball!