The COVID-19 pandemic is bad. Horrifically bad. So bad, in fact, that since it’s on-set exactly two years ago this past week and as of Saturday, January 22, 2022, there have been 2,467,797 confirmed cases and 28,417 confirmed deaths just in Los Angeles County.

But there is another health problem for LA County residents – more specifically, for LA County Dodgers fans and Dodgers fans around the world – the health of Dodgers first baseman Max Muncy.

As Dodgers fans know, the 31-year-old Midland, TX native and fifth-round draft pick by the Oakland Athletics in 2012 out of Baylor University in Waco, TX, suffered what was initially thought to be (and reported as) “a dislocated shoulder.”

The injury occurred during the final game of the Dodgers regular season on October 3, 2021, on a throw from Dodgers catcher Will Smith which went into the basepath of Milwaukee Brewers second baseman Jace Peterson. As Muncy attempted to catch the ball, Peterson collided – at full speed – with Muncy’s left non-throwing arm. Muncy immediately dropped to the ground in obvious pain and was removed from the game. A subsequent MRI revealed that the Dodgers 2021 home run leader (36) had actually suffered a torn UCL in his left elbow.

“It’s a little slow. 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 told MLB Network’s Alanna Rizzo during an interview a month after the injury. “A torn UCL is a slow process. But we’re coming back, everything is going according to plan, and thankfully it’s the offseason.”

That was nearly four months ago, and therein lies the problem.

While much (most) of the Dodgers offseason attention has been focused on Dodgers President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman finding a replacement for 27-year-old All-Star shortstop Corey Seager, who recently signed an enormous 10-year/$325 million free-agent contract with the Texas Rangers, there has been considerable chatter about moving Muncy over to second base and having 28-year-old middle infielder Trea Turner as the Dodgers everyday shortstop – at least for the 2022 season. (Turner becomes a free agent after that).

Again, therein lies the problem.

As even novice baseball fans know, a torn UCL, which is generally associated with pitchers, usually requires Tommy John surgery and usually requires a nine-month to a year (or longer) recovery period. And even though Muncy’s injury was to his left (non-throwing) elbow, it is hard to believe that it won’t affect his swing.

Therein lies yet another problem.

With or without Tommy John surgery, it is wishful thinking that ‘Mad Max’ will be fully recovered and ready to – regardless of defensive position – on Opening Day 2022, which is (was) scheduled for March 31.

Therein lies the final problem.

Will there even be an Opening Day because of that other Max health problem?

Stay tuned…

  *  *  *  *  *  *