The Los Angeles Dodgers received encouraging news after third baseman Max Muncy exited Friday’s loss against the Milwaukee Brewers with a right wrist injury. Muncy was struck by a 95.5 mph sinker from Milwaukee reliever Aaron Ashby and immediately showed discomfort as he made his way toward first base.

Manager Dave Roberts and members of the training staff met Muncy near the baseline before ultimately removing him from the game. The veteran infielder spent the remainder of the night undergoing evaluation while icing the injured wrist.

Initial X-rays came back negative, providing optimism that the Dodgers avoided a significant injury. However, Muncy continued experiencing soreness and swelling over the weekend, leading Los Angeles to keep him out of the lineup on both Saturday and Sunday.

The organization is expected to continue monitoring the swelling before determining whether further testing becomes necessary.

Roberts suggested that additional imaging, including a possible CT scan, could be considered if Muncy still experiences pain once the club returns home. Despite that possibility, the Dodgers do not currently expect the veteran slugger to land on the injured list.

The scare carried additional weight because Muncy previously fractured the same wrist after being hit by a pitch during the 2019 season. That earlier injury was not immediately visible on the initial X-rays, which naturally created concern after Friday’s incident.

Still, Muncy reportedly believed this injury felt less severe than the previous fracture. He also credited the protective wrist guard he has worn in recent seasons for potentially limiting the damage from the pitch.

The Dodgers are hopeful the combination of rest and treatment over the next few days will allow swelling to subside without revealing any structural damage.

Keeping Muncy available would be a major boost for Los Angeles considering his recent offensive production. The veteran infielder has been one of the Dodgers’ most productive hitters during May and currently leads the club with 12 home runs while also pacing the team in slugging percentage.

His power surge has helped strengthen the middle of the lineup during a strong stretch offensively for Los Angeles, making his health especially important moving forward.

The Dodgers could soon receive additional roster flexibility with Kiké Hernández expected to be activated from the 60-day injured list on Monday. Hernández has not appeared in a game this season while recovering from offseason elbow surgery performed in November.

In Muncy’s absence, Santiago Espinal handled third base duties after Friday’s injury, while Miguel Rojas also shifted into the infield rotation over the weekend.

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