Dodgers: Max Muncy is the Latest Super Utility Man for LA

The Dodgers love positional flexibility on their roster and the latest player to become a super utility man for the team is Max Muncy.

Over the past few seasons the Dodgers have had the luxury of having two of the best utility players in baseball in Enrique Hernandez and Chris Taylor.  As the Dodgers continue to embrace players with versatility on their roster, the latest utility man to emerge is a surprising one in Max Muncy.

Max Muncy slimmed down in the off-season and the benefit has been his ability to play multiple positions in addition to first base.  He was a shaky fielder last year but the Dodgers hid him at first base since they needed his power bat in the lineup.  This season, Muncy has been an asset at each position he has played.

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Last night, Max started at third base to give Justin Turner a night off and made a stellar diving stop in the eighth inning robbing Anthony Rendon of at least one RBI.  Muncy got up after the diving stop and then dove to tag third base and prevent a rally the Nationals were building against Julio Urias.

So far this season, Max Muncy has rated above average at just about every position except for second base.  At second, he has a UZR/150 rating of -29.2 although his DRS rating is 1.  At first base, Max has a UZR/150 rating of 14.1 and the biggest surprise is at third base where he has a 15.3 UZR rating.

Whether it’s his ability to move around better, or more repetitions, Max has been much better at third base this season.  Last season it felt like trial by fire but this season he feels like any ball he can get to will be caught or stopped.  He has just one error at each of the positions he has played this season.

Thanks to Max Muncy becoming the latest super utility player for the Dodgers, their depth becomes even deeper.  It also allows the Dodgers to give Justin Turner more days off since they can plug Muncy’s bat in at third base and not lose a whole lot on the offensive side.  The 2019 Dodgers have as much positional flexibility as ever and Muncy helps add to that.