Max Muncy stepped into the box against Luis Castillo on Tuesday night and didn’t just put a ball in the seats. He put his name next to a franchise icon.
The solo shot was Muncy’s 21st home run of the 2026 season and the 130th of his career at Dodger Stadium. That ties Eric Karros for the most home runs ever hit at Chavez Ravine. Karros had held that record alone since he retired in 2004 after 12 seasons in Los Angeles.
The swing gave the Dodgers a 5-4 lead in the sixth inning. It also ended a frustrating run for Muncy against Castillo, who had gotten the better of him in previous at-bats. Nothing about the moment was quiet.
A long climb from being released
Muncy didn’t start his career looking like a guy who would chase franchise home run records. The Oakland Athletics released him in 2017. The Dodgers signed him to a minor league deal that April and called him up the next season. He hasn’t left the lineup since.
He’s become one of the most reliable power threats in the sport. His 130 homers at the stadium tie him with Karros and put him one swing away from owning the record outright. That’s not bad for a guy who was cut five years ago.
One swing didn’t decide the game
The milestone moment didn’t seal a win. Dominic Canzone answered with a two-run homer in the top of the eighth inning, pushing Seattle ahead 7-5. The Dodgers went into the bottom of the ninth trailing by two runs, needing a rally to keep from wasting Muncy’s historic night.
But the at-bat itself already earned a place in franchise lore. ClutchPoints posted a clip of the home run on X and it spread fast. Fans online pointed out the symmetry of Muncy tying Karros, who spent his entire prime in a Dodgers uniform before retiring as the all-time ballpark leader.
Muncy is 35 years old. He’s under contract through next season. He could move past Karros and stretch the record further before he’s done. For now he’s sharing the top spot with a guy whose name is still on the stadium’s facade. That’s company worth keeping.
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