Los Angeles Dodgers' Max Muncy said he is doing well after a frightening collision at first base and expressed concern for the Diamondbacks infielder.
Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Max Muncy addressed reporters following Thursday's game after a frightening collision with Arizona Diamondbacks infielder Ildemaro Vargas at first base.
The play occurred as Muncy sprinted down the line on a ground ball, with both players converging near the bag at the top of the fifth inning.
While the collision appeared severe from the stands and on television, Muncy said the sequence unfolded quickly and resulted from both players reacting in the same moment.
"I saw he fielded it kind of running backwards," Muncy explained. "As I'm running down the line, I saw him in foul territory, so I got to the inside of the bag. I thought he was going to stay on that side. It felt like neither of us knew which direction we were going to go, and then we both went the wrong direction."
The impact sent both players to the ground and immediately raised concerns for injuries.
Concern for Vargas
While discussing the play, Muncy repeatedly emphasized his concern for Vargas, noting that he reached out to the Diamondbacks infielder after the game.
"Most importantly, I hope he's doing OK," Muncy said. "I definitely did not mean to run into him. It just happened, and hopefully he's doing all right."
After reviewing the replay, Muncy said it appeared both players attempted to avoid contact but reacted similarly at the last second.
"It looked like we both kind of did the same thing where we both jumped to de-weight ourselves and avoid it," Muncy said. "Unfortunately, we did not avoid it."
Injury Update
Muncy also provided an update on his own condition, revealing that he passed concussion protocol following the collision.
"The head got banged up a little bit," Muncy said. "I think it was my glasses that maybe cut my nose. I'm not entirely sure."
The veteran infielder added that he experienced shortness of breath immediately after the collision but began feeling better once he recovered on the ground.
"As I was on the ground, I just had a shortness of breath," Muncy said. "Once I was able to get my breath back, I was able to get off the field. We're doing okay right now."
Although Muncy acknowledged he might have approached the bag differently in hindsight, he described the collision as an unfortunate baseball play rather than the result of any intentional action by either player.
Join the Community
Don’t miss out on our ROUNDTABLE community and the latest news!
It’s completely free to join. Share your thoughts, engage with our Roundtable writers, and chat with fellow members.
Download the free Roundtable APP, and stay even more connected!
