We’ve all heard or seen it a dozen, if not a hundred, times – the popular vaudeville act “Who’s on First,” made famous by the comedian duo of Abbott and Costello in 1937 and a recording of which was enshrined in the sacred Halls of Cooperstown in 1956.

Putting this timeless classic aside, if and when the Dodgers take the field on Opening Day 2022, their first baseman won’t be Who, but rather Max, as in Max Muncy – if he has fully recovered from a torn ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his left (non-throwing) elbow, that is. If not, that Who could be soon-to-be (on January 16) 42-year-old Albert Pujols – if the Dodgers choose to re-sign the 21-year MLB veteran, who is currently an unsigned free agent, that is.

“I’m not recovering as quick as I would like, but that’s what happens when you do some serious damage to your body,” Muncy recently told former SportsNet LA and current MLB Network reporter Alanna Rizzo. “A torn UCL is a slow process,” the 31-year-old Midland, TX native, who led the Dodgers with his 36 home runs in 2021, added.

Muncy appeared in 144 regular-season games as the Dodgers’ first baseman in 2021, Pujols 85.

The Dodgers could, of course, plug-in super-utility Chris Taylor or one of the Dodgers less-experienced utility players at first base until Muncy has fully recovered. That said, Taylor has appeared in exactly zero games at first base during his eight-year MLB career, so it would indeed probably be someone else.

But what about What? Who (not Bud Abbott’s first baseman) will Dodgers manager Dave Roberts utilize as his so-called everyday second baseman?

The overwhelming answer is, of course, 24-year-old Gavin Lux, a natural second baseman by trade. But of significant note, there were nine Dodgers who played second base during the 2021 regular season. Here they are and the number of games in which they did so:

1. Trea Turner – 49
2. Chris Taylor – 46
3. Max Muncy – 39
4. Gavin Lux – 27
5. Zach McKinstry – 20
6. Sheldon Neuse – 14
7. Austin Barnes – 7
8. Mookie Betts – 7
9. Andy Burns – 3

With the loss of 27-year-old future Hall of Fame shortstop Corey Seager to the Texas Rangers through free agency, Trea Turner will undoubtedly take over as the Dodgers everyday shortstop. Of Turner’s combined 677 career games played over his seven major league seasons, 547 were at shortstop and 91 at second base. (He also appeared in 44 games in centerfield). In other words, shortstop is his primary defensive position, not second base – so that situation appears to be resolved.

But here again, should Muncy’s return to action be delayed, and should Lux need an occasional blow (or Heaven forbid suffer an injury), that second-base-by-committee thing will (presumably) come into play again.

Play Ball!

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