Max Muncy endured some struggles in the field and at the plate last year but he was ranked by The Shredder among the MLB Top-10 Third Baseman Right Now heading into the 2024 season.
The analytical model placed Muncy at No. 8 on its list, which was his same spot for the 2023 season. Muncy was ranked a top-five first baseman every season from 2019-2022.
Muncy was not ranked a top-10 third baseman by analysts Mike Petriello, Vince Gennaro or Sarah Langs on their respective lists.
The Shredder is a statistical model that places emphasis on WAR, wRC+ and Statcast metrics to compile annual rankings. The model focuses on a three-year sample with performance in the previous season weighted more heavily in the calculations.
The Shredder ranked Atlanta Braves’ Austin Riley as the best third baseman in baseball, which only Langs agreed with. Petriello and Gennaro both had Cleveland Guardians All-Star José Ramírez as the top third baseman.
Muncy made the transition to third base because of the Dodgers signing Freddie Freeman in February 2022. Freeman was ranked by The Shredder as the No. 1 first baseman heading into the 2024 season.
Muncy hit .212/.333/.475 with 17 doubles, one triple, 36 home runs, 105 RBI, 95 runs scored and 85 walks last season. His 14.7% walk rate ranked fifth in baseball, two slots behind Shohei Ohtani.
Muncy was part of the quartet of Dodgers — which included Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman and J.D. Martinez as well — to drive in at leasst 100 runs. It was the 15th time in league history that four players on one team tallied 100 RBI in the same season.
Muncy was named a finalist at third base for the NL Silver Slugger, but came up short as Riley won at the position.
Since the start of the 2018 season, Muncy’s 175 home runs are tied for seventh-most in baseball. His 93 homers over the past three seasons are third-most among all third basemen.