Welcome back to the Dodgers Beat newsletter! When Max Muncy envisions the possibility of making this year's National League All-Star team, the thought of all the pomp and circumstance that comes with the Midsummer Classic is secondary to him. His mind goes right to being able to take it all in with his family of five. The Dodgers' third baseman is already a two-time All-Star, but a third would mean that much more because it would be his first as a father.
Previously, Muncy was selected to the NL All-Star team in 2019 and '21, just before he and his wife, Kellie, welcomed their first child, Sophie. Their son, Wyatt, arrived in '23, and their youngest daughter, Macie, was born this past January.
"I've never cared about personal goals, but both my All-Star Games came before my kids," Muncy said. "They're old enough to understand how special it is. Coming into this year, I was kind of just like, 'Man, I'd really like to experience at least one All-Star Game with my kids.' For them to go down on the field, wear the uniform, kind of just see everything that goes on with it and just see how special it is." That dream could very well become a reality. When the first update to the 2026 MLB All-Star Ballot was revealed on Monday, Muncy led NL third basemen by a wide margin with 941,218 votes, well ahead of the Phillies' Alec Bohm (386,425). |
(via @MaxMuncy on Instagram) |
Muncy is well-positioned to advance to Phase 2 of fan voting, and if he is elected to the NL's starting lineup, he would be the first Dodgers third baseman to start the All-Star Game since Ron Cey in 1977. "To see his name in the lights with all those other guys," manager Dave Roberts said, "I think that's a really personal, fulfilling thing for him." The chance to see it through his children's eyes for the first time would make it even more special for Muncy. Sophie, who turns 5 next month, and Wyatt, 3, have practically grown up at Dodger Stadium. A day spent at the ballpark, whether they're hanging out with other Dodgers kids in the family room or down on the field, is just a regular day for them. Lately, Muncy has gotten the sense that his oldest children are starting to realize how special all this is. They may not have quite grasped the magnitude of what it means to be back-to-back champions, but they do realize that most people don't get to travel around the country going from one ballpark to another. Let alone experience All-Star Week festivities. |
(via @MaxMuncy on Instagram) |
Muncy would love for his kids to be able to watch the Home Run Derby from the field. They've already met some big names in baseball by virtue of Muncy being a Dodger, but they would be surrounded by stars from all over the game during those two days at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. Since Muncy became a father, his family has been the driver behind his biggest career decisions. They are part of the reason why he is the longest-tenured Dodger, nine years after signing with the team as a Minor League free agent. Muncy has signed team-friendly extensions rather than test big league free agency because he felt it was the right thing to do for his family. "They're pretty much all I think about now," Muncy said. "The Dodgers are all my kids know. Dodger blue, Dodger Stadium, the family room up there, the teachers that work in the family room, the drive into Dodger Stadium, that's all they've ever known. … Anytime they see the color blue, they say it's Dodger blue." And in all likelihood, Muncy's children will get to see their dad wearing Dodger blue for the NL All-Stars less than a month from now. |
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Muncy is far from the only Dodger tracking to make the NL All-Star squad in Philadelphia. Shohei Ohtani was the overall leading vote-getter in the first Phase 1 update, with 1,165,133 votes. If he finishes Phase 1 with the most votes in his league, he will automatically be elected as the NL's starting designated hitter. Here are the other Dodgers in position to advance to Phase 2 voting (the top two finishers at most positions, and the top six outfielders) as of the first update: • Catcher Will Smith (second, 662,883 votes) • First baseman Freddie Freeman (first, 870,606 votes) • Shortstop Mookie Betts (second, 567,566 votes) • Outfielders Andy Pages (first, 800,496 votes) and Teoscar Hernández (fifth, 507,625 votes) Phase 1 voting remains open until June 25 at 9 a.m. PT. |
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Here are a few notable things to know about the Dodgers’ next opponent, the Orioles: • Probable pitching matchups: The Orioles have yet to announce their pitching plans for the weekend, but the Dodgers are starting right-hander Roki Sasaki on Friday, right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto on Saturday and right-hander Emmet Sheehan on Sunday. • Orioles' injuries of note: Baltimore has an injured list that rivals L.A.'s own. The Orioles have four starters on the IL (Chris Bassitt, Zach Eflin, Dean Kremer and Cade Povich), as well as their former closer, Félix Bautista. They did just get a key arm back from injury, though: closer Ryan Helsley. • Recent history: Last September's series in Baltimore included two of the Dodgers' tougher losses of the season. They got walked off on back-to-back nights, somehow losing a game where Yamamoto came an out away from a no-hitter. But in retrospect, that series ended up serving as motivation to end the regular season strong before the Dodgers secured back-to-back championships. |
Here's what's going on at Dodger Stadium this homestand. For more information, including the full-season promotional schedule, click here. • Friday: Mookie Betts "Game 7 double play" bobblehead giveaway • Saturday: Shaquille O'Neal bobblehead giveaway • Sunday: Father's Day UNIQLO T-shirt giveaway and Viva Los Dodgers |
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