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Max Muncy Ties a Dodgers Legend and Tommy John Surgery Never Slowed Him Down

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Max Muncy Ties a Dodgers Legend and Tommy John Surgery Never Slowed Him Down

Max Muncy did something Tuesday night that only one other player in Los Angeles Dodgers history has done. He tied Ron Cey for second place on the franchise’s all-time home run list with a two-run blast off Phillies ace Zack Wheeler. The 35-year-old infielder sent an 89 mph cutter over the fence in the fourth inning at Citizens Bank Park, giving the Dodgers a 2-1 lead they’d eventually need to hold onto.

The homer was No. 228 of Muncy’s career in a Dodgers uniform. Only Eric Karros (270) sits ahead of him now. And the crazy part? Muncy didn’t even start playing every day until he was 27. He washed out with the Oakland A’s, got picked up by the Dodgers in 2018, and turned into one of the most consistent power threats in the National League. Three All-Star appearances. A World Series ring. And now his name next to a guy who played 12 seasons in LA and won a championship too.

Nineteen homers and counting

Tuesday’s swing was Muncy’s second since the All-Star break and his 19th of the 2026 season. Only Shohei Ohtani has more for the Dodgers this year. That’s decent company. Muncy’s been wearing Dodger blue since 2018, and he’s never finished a full season with an OPS+ lower than 117 over the last four years. That’s not just a power hitter. That’s a guy who gets on base, works counts, and makes pitchers pay when they make mistakes.

For a team that’s spent the last month figuring out how to stay healthy in a brutal NL West race, Muncy’s consistency matters. The Dodgers dropped two straight headed into Tuesday — a Sunday loss to the Yankees and Monday’s opener against the Phillies — and they needed someone to flip the script. Muncy did exactly that. Wheeler had been cruising, and then Muncy jumped on the first pitch he saw.

Bob Nightengale of USA Today noted the milestone on social media, calling attention to the fact that Muncy now stands alone behind only Karros in franchise history. The Dodgers have had some serious sluggers over the years. Shawn Green. Adrian Beltre. Cody Bellinger in his prime. Muncy’s name sits above all of them now on the club’s career list.

There’s still a long way to go before he catches Karros. Forty-two homers is a lot for a guy in his mid-30s, even one who still hits the ball as hard as Muncy does. But he’s not slowing down. And on a team full of superstars, he’s quietly doing something that may never get broken.

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