Max Muncy’s 2025 season hasn’t gone the way anyone had hoped for. Not for the Los Angeles Dodgers, not for the fans, and certainly not for Max Muncy himself. The veteran third baseman has struggled at the plate, and his numbers reflect it. Through his first 35 games, he batted just .177 with just one home run. His OPS+ is down to 67. So yes, it is quite alarming, as it is nearly half of his career average.

This slump is rather striking considering that Muncy is coming off one of his strongest years since 2021. Yet now he is among the bottom hitters in Major League Baseball. Even his recent change to wearing prescription glasses has only brought about little improvement.

But what has made this slump hard for Muncy is not just baseball—it’s what’s happening off the field.

Max Muncy has become a target of fan frustration, and it has gone beyond the boos in the stands this time. A video of a fan yelling foul profanities at him last month, when Muncy boarded the team bus, went viral. And well, of course, it affects him. At the end of the day, he is human. Now he is speaking out about the backlash, and he is not complaining, just asking to draw a line when the criticism spills over to his loved ones.

“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. 

Even Jim Bowden hinted that maybe age is starting to show. However, the $24 million Los Angeles Dodgers star did mention to The Athletic that he knows this is part and parcel for him as a player. And that he understands that if he plays badly, opinions are going to come. But he also feels that people end up saying what they want without thinking about who they are hurting. Right now, though, he is trying to move past the cloud of criticism and just battling to turn things around.

Los Angeles Dodgers’ Max Muncy isn’t backing down yet

Max Muncy knows what people are saying; he is not unaware of the whispers. And he is also aware that a major chunk of the Los Angeles Dodgers fan base won’t mind seeing Nolan Arenado manning third base instead of him. But through the noise, one thing is clear—he isn’t ready to step aside, not yet. Given the cold streak he is having, Muncy has become the face of trade speculation in LA.

And when you are on a team like the Los Angeles Dodgers with championship-or-bust expectations and a mentality of win-now, the pressure can get personal fast. But Muncy is not taking it to heart. He told the Athletic, “They gave me the confidence that they had in me, and unfortunately, I haven’t entirely returned it yet this year, but I still know that I’m a very good player and I can definitely get back to my standards. 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.” 

This is a huge statement, coming from a guy who has bounced back from dire positions several times. He has been written off he has hustled with those injuries. He has heard all those ‘you’re done’ talks before. But this time, it is just louder with Arenado rumors. “It’s a business. Especially when you’re on a team like this where they expect to win the World Series. You also understand if there’s any chance that they can improve, they’re probably going to take that chance,” Muncy admitted. However, it’s crucial to know Arenado himself is not having a standout year. His production this year is standing at a .256 average and 107 OPS+. And the Los Angeles Dodgers, too, are showing complete faith in Muncy till now.

So the season and Muncy’s Dodger stretch seem far from over. Only time will tell if he can silence the doubters. Do you think he can?