Max Muncy is on an absolute tear to start the 2025 season. In Friday night's Dodgers victory over the Angels in Anaheim, the veteran third baseman launched his team-leading 12th home run of the year. But it's not just the power numbers that are turning heads—Muncy is hitting a robust .275/.372/.563, with a 162 wRC+ (weighted runs created plus) of 162, ranking seventh in the entire National League. His 2.2 fWAR (FanGraphs wins above replacement) is third in the league, underscoring his all-around value to a loaded Dodgers lineup.
What makes Muncy's performance so impressive? It's the consistency. As Ben Clemens of FanGraphs recently noted, "It's not so much that he's found a new gear; you'd have a hard time differentiating between his 2025 and 2026 component statistics. That's basically my point, though. What he's doing isn't surprising, because he's made it commonplace. He's hit more or less like this for a decade." For a player entering his ninth season with Los Angeles, that kind of steady production is a manager's dream.
Meanwhile, the Dodgers are getting encouraging news on the injury front. Kiké Hernández, currently on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City, has played six games so far—including three this week in Albuquerque. Speaking with Geoff Grammer of the Albuquerque Journal, Hernández opened up about his health and mindset after missing spring training and Opening Day for the first time in his career. "I knew it was going to be a long rehab. And even though I'm ahead of schedule, it still feels like it's forever," Hernández said. "Last year was miserable, you know? Not only performance wise, but I was just in a lot of pain every time I took the field. So I'm just happy that I'm pain free right now." For a player known for his energy and versatility, a healthy Hernández could be a huge boost for the Dodgers down the stretch.
In other Dodger Stadium news, the public comment process for the proposed gondola project remains a challenging hurdle. Martín Macías Jr. of LA Public Press chronicled the complexities of navigating the system, a reminder that even off-the-field developments can be a grind.
And for a dose of baseball nostalgia, former major league outfielder and current ESPN broadcaster Doug Glanville wrote about his time guest-hosting the classic show "This Week in Baseball" while playing for the Philadelphia Phillies in 2000. In his Welcome to Glanville newsletter, he reflected: "The show took viewers around baseball without heavy bias toward one particular market. It simply made you love baseball wherever, and whenever, it was being played." It's a sentiment that resonates with any fan who's ever found joy in America's pastime—whether at Dodger Stadium, a Triple-A ballpark, or on a screen at home.