Dodgers: Max Muncy and Mike Trout Battle for the Los Angeles Crown

The Dodgers’ Max Muncy will battle Mike Trout, the best player in baseball in the last seven seasons, for the Los Angeles crown next weekend when the freeway series continues.

In 244 plate appearances this season, Muncy has taken the baseball world by storm. Owning a season slash line of .270/.410/.617, Muncy’s advanced stats are ranking him with the best of the sport.

Among one of the best players, Muncy is accompanying on the leaderboards is Mike Trout, center fielder for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

In the last 15 games, Muncy and Trout have been two completely different players.

Muncy is hitting nearly 100 points better than Trout’s batting average and slugged seven more home runs.

While swinging a hot bat recently, the previous 15 games are only a glance of Muncy’s unarguable All-Star performance since being called up from Triple-A in April.

But prior the 2018 season, Muncy was one of the last players to compete against Trout for the title of the best player in baseball.

Muncy’s 1.027 OPS is behind Mookie Betts, Trout and J.D. Martinez. Also, it’s in front of Jose Ramirez, Aaron Judge, Francisco Lindor and Manny Machado.

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Muncy’s home-run-per-at-bat rate is more surprising than his company in the OPS leaderboard.

Muncy is hitting a home run every 9.8 at-bats. That’s better than J.D. Martinez (HR/12.1), Betts (HR/12.31), Trout (HR/12.44), Bryce Harper (HR/14.3) and Giancarlo Stanton (HR/15.8).

While Muncy and Trout are combined 3-14 in the first two games of the freeway series – all hits coming from Trout – the two of the best players in baseball will battle it out to be the best player in California.

It’d be illogical to believe the 169^th overall pick in the 2012 draft would nearly outperform the 25^th overall pick in the 2009 draft.

While the 25^th overall pick was polishing off multiple Rookie of the Year, Most Valuable Player, All-Star MVP and Silver Slugger awards, the 169^th pick was getting released by the team that drafted him.

Nearly a month into the free agent market, the 169^th pick signed a minor league contract for the Los Angeles Dodgers and spent the rest of the 2017 season in Triple-A Oklahoma City.

While the 25^th pick was leading the league in home runs, the 169^th pick was fighting to stay in a struggling lineup filled with sluggers.

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In seven seasons, Trout has drawn comparisons to Mickey Mantle. In two months, Muncy has drawn comparisons to Babe Ruth.  Muncy looks for his first all-star appearance through the National League’s final vote ballot as the Dodgers head to San Diego to take on the Padres for four games.