Max Muncy shares reason for optimism after wrist injury

Max Muncy was removed from the Dodgers’ series opener after a pitch struck his right hand/wrist area in the eighth inning. He was in significant pain and received manual testing on the field before exiting. Initial X-rays were negative, which provided relief, though monitoring remained necessary because X-rays often do not show certain injuries immediately. Muncy said he felt optimistic because the pain was intense but he did not experience the nauseous feeling he had previously associated with a similar injury in that spot. He also explained that he touched first base briefly but left right away, noting that game situations can require a runner to touch first base depending on whether a pinch-runner is used.

"Max Muncy was removed from the Los Angeles Dodgers' series opener against the Milwaukee Brewers after being hit by a pitch in the right hand/wrist area during the eighth inning. Muncy was in considerable pain and underwent some manual testing on the field before exiting the game. Initial X-rays on the area were negative, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts shared after the game. That was encouraging news, but there's still some concern over it given how X-ray testing typically goes."

""Not feeling great right now, but it is relief," Muncy said. "We've just got to monitor it the next couple days. Typically, especially in that area, the X-rays never come back positive immediately. It kind of forms a little bit. "I'm pretty sure it hit half my wrist pad and then half my wrist. I haven't looked at it (the replay) yet, but that's kind of what I was feeling. Me deciding to wear that wrist guard the last couple years might've saved my wrist, at least tonight.""

""It hurt really, really bad," Muncy began. "In that moment, you're trying to figure out what you can feel, trying to assess how bad you think it is. "For me, I think we escaped the worst because I've been hit in that spot before and had a break in that spot before. The biggest thing that always stuck with me from that was just the nauseous feeling that you get. I didn't quite have that tonight, so that's why I'm feeling pretty optimistic about it.""

"After Muncy was hit, it appeared he might try to stay in the game as he went to first base. But he immediately left after touching the base and explained why he went to the bag. "Just because some of the things that have happened this year, you never know if you have to actually touch first base or not," Muncy said. "If you get pinch-ran for, you have to touch first base. "I looked at Doc and I was like, 'Do I need to touch first base?'"

Read at Dodger Blue