The 2018 October glory. The magnificent night. How can we forget the longest game in World Series history? A swing changed everything that day. The hit that will stick with us to date. It didn’t come in the ninth, but in the 18th inning from a very young Dodger. And now, it feels like everything was destined because the ex-Athletic was considering retirement just the year before…
He sat there for weeks, maybe even months. No practice for hitting. No potential trade talks. No locker room talk. Nothing but quiet. Then there was an offer: A fresh trip halfway around the world to the KBO. Maybe a lifeline. But he might have considered it a career-ending sign. Then came the real-life curveball, and he didn’t miss it. Instead, he hit it so hard that he carved his name in the Dodgers’ history.
He became an integral part of the Boys in Blue in 2018. And in 2024, he again signed a two-year deal worth $24 million. Yes, we are talking about none other than Max Muncy. From thinking to bidding goodbye to having a ring from the World Series. A nod for the All-Star team. A late-season push. A comeback we often watch in Hollywood, but the only difference is that it’s real.
In a recent interview, Muncy shared something unknown. When asked about his KBO venture or other options, he replied, “Well, after Oakland, I was pretty dead set on retiring, actually, and I had an offer to go play in the KBO, and you know I didn’t really want to take it. I was pretty dead set on retiring, and after you sit there on the couch for 3-4 weeks, you realize maybe you want to give it another shot, and everything is kind of turned out.”
Muncy, now 34, is still a strong player for the Dodgers. As of June 2025, he has a .232 batting average, with 9 home runs and 35 RBIs in 63 games. His strong .357 OBP shows Muncy’s discipline at the plate. His total batting average might not be as impressive, but his consistent power and ability to get on base are still something necessary. Can he carry the same consistency to next season?
When asked if he plans to play again next season, he didn’t stumble. “Yeah, I mean, I would hope so. I hope I still got several good years left in me.” That’s all… No big promises—just faith.
His famous swing, his fight with retirement, and now his firm stand on rivalries paint a clear picture of a player whose beliefs go far beyond the batter’s box. Max Muncy doesn’t just play baseball; he lives it, defines it, and fights hard to keep what it means to be a Dodger alive.
Dodgers’ rivalry redefined: Muncy says it’s Giants or nothing
Apart from those sky-high rockets and the velocity, baseball’s third favorite thing is watching an intense rivalry game. And one of those is between the Dodgers and the Giants. Yes, the Padres are also on the list, but with the Giants, it’s different.
The Padres have been bringing the heat in recent years, going head-to-head with L.A. in postseason series, trading leads, and bringing heat on the diamond. This Southern California aspect is hot, from the 2022 and 2024 NLDS to the current season’s showdowns. But Max Muncy, a slugger for the Dodgers, says it’s still not the real deal.
Muncy made it very clear on the Foul Territory podcast. “The Padres bring everything that is in a rivalry, but you only have one rival… that’s always going to be the Giants, for the Dodgers. I don’t like when people say you have ‘rivals.’ … you don’t have multiple teams as your rival.” His words show how the one-and-done rivalry mindset works. Probably, right! Archnemesis can be JUST ONE!
But do you know, for Muncy, it’s a little personal, too? In 2019, at Oracle Park, Madison Bumgarner advised him to stop admiring one of his home runs and “Don’t watch the ball, run.” And Muncy didn’t mince a word. He responded, “If you don’t want me to watch the ball, you can go get it out of the ocean.” That caustic response led to fights that cleared the benches.
It shows that the Giants aren’t simply a rival for Muncy. They’re THE rivals.
So, which side are you on – the Dodgers-Padres or Dodgers-Giants?
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