Max Muncy’s 2025 season hasn’t unfolded the way anyone hoped—not for the Los Angeles Dodgers, not for fans, and certainly not for Muncy himself. Through his first 35 games, the veteran third baseman is hitting just .177 with one home run, and his OPS+ sits at 67, nearly half of his career average. It’s a stark contrast to his strong 2023 campaign and a difficult pill to swallow for a $24 million player expected to be a key cog in a title-contending lineup.
Dodgers’ Max Muncy Talks LA Fans Amid Slump
Muncy’s struggles haven’t gone unnoticed, nor have they stayed on the field. A recent video of a fan hurling profanities at him while he boarded the team bus went viral. While Muncy says he accepts criticism as part of the job, he draws the line when it impacts his family.
“Playing in L.A. is not easy… The fans want to win. They expect to win. … That’s one of the things that’s tough about social media these days. People feel like they can say whatever they want to say, and they don’t realize who it’s hurting the most. I signed up for this life. I understand that if you play badly, they’re going to have opinions. And it’s warranted. But when you’re hearing from your family about certain things that are being said to them, that’s when it gets tough for me,” said Muncy to the Athletic.
Some, including former GM Jim Bowden, have speculated that age may be catching up to Muncy. Trade chatter has swirled—especially around Nolan Arenado, despite Arenado’s own modest numbers (.256 AVG, 107 OPS+). Muncy, though, isn’t folding. “I still know that I’m a very good player,” he said. “If I’m able to just relax and go out there and play, by the end of the year, you may not even know what my first month was.”
In a town with championship expectations, Muncy knows it’s a business. But for now, he’s not giving in.