A's Manager Sees Breakout Potential in Max Muncy

Kotsay compares Muncy's path to that of Tyler Soderstrom, hoping for a similar breakout season.

Feb. 20, 2026 at 11:12pm by Ben Kaplan

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Oakland A's manager Mark Kotsay has singled out infielder Max Muncy as a player to watch in spring training, projecting a potential breakout season similar to that of teammate Tyler Soderstrom. Kotsay believes the 23-year-old Muncy, a high school draft pick of the A's, has "electric pop" and a chance to solidify the team's third base spot with an impactful 2026 campaign.

Why it matters

The A's have an open competition at third base this spring, and Muncy is one of the top candidates for the job. If he can follow a similar trajectory to Soderstrom, who struggled initially but then broke out over the past two seasons, it would be a major boost for an A's team looking to return to contention.

The details

Muncy made his MLB debut last season, appearing in 63 games while playing second base, third base and shortstop. He hit .214 with a .259 on-base percentage and 72 wRC+, showing promise but also areas for improvement, such as cutting down his high strikeout and chase rates. Kotsay is hopeful that with more experience, Muncy can unlock his offensive potential in a breakout 2026 season.

  • Muncy made his MLB debut in the 2025 season.
  • Soderstrom was called up to the A's roster in 2023 and had a breakout 2025 campaign.

The players

Mark Kotsay

The manager of the Oakland Athletics.

Max Muncy

A 23-year-old infielder in the Oakland Athletics organization, drafted by the team out of high school.

Tyler Soderstrom

A top prospect in the Oakland Athletics system who had a breakout 2025 season after struggling initially in the majors.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Max Muncy. Max Muncy is a talented young player. We drafted him, he was a high school draft pick. He's got electric pop. For us, as a team, we're still looking to solidify that third base spot. This kid's got that chance to have an impact here.”

— Mark Kotsay, Manager, Oakland Athletics

“Projections, in some sense, we're hopeful that he has a Tyler Soderstrom type of projection, where Sodey scuffled a little bit, and then had a decent year, and then it was this last year that he finally put it all together. That's what we're hoping for from Max.”

— Mark Kotsay, Manager, Oakland Athletics

What’s next

The A's will get their first look at Muncy and the other third base candidates when they open their spring training schedule on Saturday against the Chicago White Sox.

The takeaway

Muncy's potential breakout could be a key factor in the A's efforts to return to contention, as the team looks to solidify its third base position. If he can follow a similar trajectory to Soderstrom's recent success, it would be a major boost for the A's lineup.