Dodgers Star Max Muncy to Miss 6 Weeks with Knee Bruise

The Los Angeles Dodgers have taken a hit to their infield depth as Max Muncy has officially been sidelined with a bone bruise in his left knee. The injury, confirmed on Thursday, will likely keep him out of action for about six weeks, disrupting what had been a strong stretch of form from the veteran slugger.

The injury occurred during Wednesday night’s matchup against the White Sox when Muncy collided with center fielder Michael A. Taylor during a tag play at third base. Despite fears of a more serious issue, scans confirmed no tears or ligament damage, offering some relief for the club.

Max Muncy shared his thoughts on the diagnosis, grateful that the injury wasn’t more severe but still frustrated by the time he’ll be off the field. Speaking with reporters, he acknowledged the emotional toll of being sidelined, noting that although no serious damage was found, six weeks away from the game feels like a tough pill to swallow. His discomfort was still visible as he moved around cautiously during the media session.

Before the injury, Muncy had been contributing significantly to the Dodgers’ offense. Over 81 games this season, he posted a .250 batting average, hit 13 home runs, and drove in 55 runs. His recent surge in June included a .333 average, 7 homers, and 24 RBIs — a much-needed spark as other stars struggled at the plate.

Although Muncy was a finalist in All-Star voting, he narrowly missed out on a starting spot to San Diego’s Manny Machado.

Across a decade in the majors — with the majority spent wearing Dodger blue — Muncy has built a reputation as one of the team’s most consistent sources of power at the plate. He holds a lifetime .230 batting average with 208 home runs and 592 RBIs. His 203 home runs as a Dodger place him tied for seventh in franchise history alongside Matt Kemp.

To fill the gap left by Muncy, the Dodgers have recalled speedy outfielder Esteury Ruiz from Triple-A Oklahoma City. Ruiz, acquired in April in a deal with Oakland, has impressed with a .292 average, eight home runs, 37 RBIs, and 38 stolen bases in 66 minor league games. The 26-year-old previously led the American League in steals last year with 67.

The Dodgers made further adjustments to their roster, parting ways with outfielder Steward Berroa by designating him for assignment, while also adding infielder CJ Alexander to the squad after claiming him off waivers from the New York Yankees. Berroa, who had not appeared in a game for the Dodgers since being acquired from Toronto, hit .189 in limited action with the Blue Jays earlier this season. Alexander, 28, has appeared in 10 major league games across stints with the Athletics and Yankees, batting .160 overall.

Muncy’s absence comes at a pivotal moment in the season, as Los Angeles continues to lead the NL West by a sizable margin. With the team pushing for another deep postseason run, the Dodgers will now look to Ruiz and others to step up during their slugger’s recovery.