Two Max Muncys finally meet in MLB as Dodgers face Athletics
For the first time in Major League Baseball history, two unrelated players named Max Muncy faced each other on June 29, 2026, when the Dodgers and Athletics opened their series at Sutter Health Park. Both third basemen batted seventh in a matchup dubbed Maximum Muncy—a long-awaited crossover finally delivered.
Key Takeaways
- Athletics third baseman Maxwell Price Muncy and Dodgers veteran Maxwell Steven Muncy shared a big-league lineup card for the first time on Monday night.
- Both were born August 25 exactly 12 years apart, were drafted by Oakland, and are completely unrelated despite the identical names.
- The younger Muncy had waited years for the meeting, missing a 2025 Dodger Stadium series while on the injured list.
- Their first professional encounter came in August 2024 at Triple-A; Monday marked the first MLB game featuring both Max Muncys.
- Fans tracking the rare crossover can follow more streaming and TV alerts for when these teams meet again.
What Is Maximum Muncy and Why Did It Matter?
Maximum Muncy is the nickname baseball adopted for any game featuring both Max Muncys at once. On Monday, Max Muncy batted seventh and played third base for the Athletics—while Max Muncy did the same for the Dodgers on the other side of the diamond.
MLB.com reported that the moment felt inevitable. The elder Muncy was drafted by the Athletics in 2012. Nine years later, Oakland used the 25th overall pick in 2021 on another infielder with the same name and birthday.
For scorekeepers, broadcasters, and fantasy managers, the crossover was more than a novelty. It was the first time two active major leaguers with identical names squared off in the same game.
How Are the Two Max Muncys Connected?
The parallels run deeper than a shared first and last name. According to MLB.com, both celebrate birthdays on August 25—the Dodgers' Muncy born in 1990, the Athletics' Muncy in 2002. They are not related.
DodgersBeat notes their full legal names help tell them apart: Maxwell Steven Muncy for Los Angeles and Maxwell Price Muncy for Oakland. The Dodgers slugger is a two-time All-Star and left-handed power hitter with three World Series rings. The 23-year-old Athletics infielder bats right-handed and was selected out of Thousand Oaks High School.
The younger Muncy told MLB.com he became aware of his namesake around age eight through his grandparents. The elder Muncy even began his MLB career with the organization that eventually drafted the younger one twice.
Had the Two Max Muncys Met Before Monday?
Not at the major league level. Their first professional encounter came in August 2024, when Triple-A Las Vegas faced Triple-A Oklahoma City. The Dodgers' Muncy was on a rehab assignment; the Athletics' Muncy was climbing toward his 2025 debut.
That night belonged to the younger Muncy, who collected four hits including a pair of doubles. The two posed for a photo before the game and later ran into each other at a nearby restaurant.
A 2025 showdown at Dodger Stadium looked set for May, but the Athletics' Muncy landed on the injured list before the series. Monday finally delivered the MLB version fans had been waiting for.
Where Does Athletics Max Muncy Stand in 2026?
CBS Sports has tracked the younger Muncy's push into an everyday role at third base this season. He opened 2026 as Oakland's preferred option at the hot corner, though Andy Ibanez and Darell Hernaiz could spell him if needed.
After debuting in March 2025, he finished last season with nine home runs and 23 RBI over 220 plate appearances. A fractured left hand sidelined him in late April 2026, but he returned from the injured list on June 8 following a productive rehab stint with Triple-A Las Vegas.
That health turnaround mattered for Maximum Muncy. Without an active Athletics Muncy in the lineup, the historic Dodgers series would have remained on hold one more time.