Dodgers Preview: First Base

A wealth of riches on the right side of the diamond

So here we are, it is time once again for our annual position-by-position preview of what your Los Angeles Dodgers will be putting on the field in 2022. There are some notable absences (So long, Kenley, Sayonara Corey, Adios Mariachi Joe), but the core of the 2021 team remains intact. We’ll start our tour around the diamond with the position that will see the biggest addition of the off-season: first base. Both Cody Bellinger and Edwin Rios could probably play first in a pinch (and please, no Will Smith this year!). However, the bulk of the time at first base is sure to be filled by two players in particular: Freddie Freeman and Max Muncy

Freddie Freeman (2021: .300 AVG., 31 HR, 83 RBI)

Of course, Freddie Freeman is going to get the vast majority of the starts at first base in 2022. He’s a slightly better defender than Max Muncy, but not as much as people say. However, he’ll get the majority of nods at first simply because Max Muncy has more defensive versatility than Freeman, who is more of a classic first baseman type than Munce is. I imagine Freeman will do better at the plate this year as well, as with this stacked lineup, pitchers just won’t have the option of pitching around him. I could see him batter third or fourth this season, which should jack his RBI total up higher than it was last season as well.

The Dodgers have made a six-year commitment to Freeman. Let’s hope it starts to pay dividend from Day One.

Max Muncy (2021: .249 AVG., 36 HR, 94 RBI)

Make no mistake about it. Max Muncy is not a backup first baseman to anyone. He is an everyday player who will occasionally play first base when Dave Roberts feels like playing Freddie Freeman at DH or giving him a day off to rest (although given the fact that Freeman played in an amazing 159 games last year, I don’t expect him out of the lineup very often). After struggling through injury during the Covid-shortened 2020 campaign, Muncy had a great bounce-back year in 2021. So much so that toward the end of June, the “MVP! MVP!” chants were out in full force at Chavez Ravine. And not without reason: he was 4th in the NL in home runs last year, and top ten in OBP, Slugging Percentage, and Runs Scored.

However, there was “that moment” on the last day of the season that was so painful to watch that I hesitate to even mention it for fear that it will trigger Dodger fans’ post-traumatic stress disorder. Muncy’s elbow injury on a freak play at first kept him out of the playoffs, and force him to rehab it all during the winter. This week in an interview, manager Dave Roberts said that Muncy was at “about 80%” in his recovery at the moment, but Doc also expressed confidence that Muncy will be on the field on Opening Day in Colorado next month. However, I’m sure that the Dodgers’ training staff will not rush the rehab, and with the Dodgers’ loaded infield, there are plenty of options if Max has to be on the shelf for another week or two…

So first base is in very good hands this season. As long as Freeman and Muncy stay healthy. I’m guessing they will be high up the leader board in all offensive categories this season. I’m feeling very confident that the Freeman move will get us that much closer to reclaiming our World Series crown.

DODGERSBEAT RATING: A