Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Dustin May is back. The talented but often injured 27-year-old has not made a big league appearance since May of 2023 due to flexor tendon surgery and a torn esophagus. May also underwent Tommy John surgery back in 2021.
In total, the former third-round draft selection has pitched in just 46 MLB games since his 2019 debut and has yet to surpass 200 innings.
However, May is set to take the mound Tuesday night against the Atlanta Braves in a highly anticipated and highly emotional affair. Here's what May told Field Level Media about his upcoming start:
"I feel like there will be a lot more emotions for me because of all of the time that I've had to think about it… I was waiting for 13 months and the esophagus thing happened and then that changed my perspective on a lot of things in life. I'm excited. I'm just going to put it that way."
In one of the more bizarre and scarier MLB injuries in recent memory, May had a piece of salad lodged in his throat while out to dinner with his wife and friends, according to MLB.com. The esophagus tear sidelined May for the rest of the 2024 season.
There is always that triumphant first game back after a long-term injury. We see it all the time, particularly with pitchers coming off of elbow surgery. But when you have a freak accident like that, coupled with more common injuries, it has made for one of the most compelling redemption stories in the league.
May has a career 3.10 ERA, 1.049 WHIP, and 174 strikeouts to 57 walks in 191 and 2/3 innings. He also looked comfortable in spring training, recording a 3.60 ERA over 10 innings and four starts.
His stuff has never been in question, and the fanbase should be fired up to see their once-heralded prospect attempt to find his footing again. If May can overcome this reintegration stage and control his emotions on the bump, he should provide the Dodgers with more quality pitching.
Of course, health is always the biggest question mark surrounding May. But with Los Angeles' surplus of starting pitching, there should be less pressure on guys like May to handle massive workloads this summer.
