Steve Webb
LOS ANGELES — After a grueling and emotional journey back to the mound, Dustin May is set to make his long-awaited return for the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday night against the Atlanta Braves. It will mark his first Major League start since May 2023, closing the chapter on nearly two years of injuries and setbacks.
The 26-year-old right-hander has not had a smooth path back to Dodger Stadium. Since debuting in 2019, May has shown flashes of dominance, compiling a 12-9 record and a 3.10 ERA over parts of five seasons. But injuries have consistently interrupted his progress. After undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2021, May faced yet another setback in 2023, requiring a second elbow surgery to repair his flexor tendon. Just as he was nearing a return, an unexpected and life-threatening incident nearly ended his career—and his life.
Last July, while eating dinner with friends, May tore his esophagus when a piece of salad became lodged in his throat. In an attempt to dislodge it, he drank water, which caused the obstruction to rupture internally. He was rushed to the emergency room and underwent emergency surgery that lasted into the early morning. He spent 11 days in the hospital and lost 40 pounds during his recovery.
“It felt amazing just to be back,” May said after a recent Spring Training outing. “A huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I’m alive. I’m glad I’m here.”
That spring appearance, an emotional one-inning start against the Padres, was his first time facing big-league hitters in 648 days. He allowed an infield single and a hit batter, but bounced back with a double play and a strikeout to end the frame, touching 95 mph on the radar gun. While his velocity was a bit lower than his career average, May wasn’t concerned.
“Velo for me right now, I don’t really care about it,” he said. “As long as I’m throwing strikes with everything, everything’s gonna be fine.”
Dodgers pitching coach Mark Prior has been encouraged by May’s progress, calling his stuff “pretty electric” and highlighting the addition of a new slider grip that gives his pitch mix even more depth.
Manager Dave Roberts also praised May’s poise and perseverance. “He did a great job of controlling his emotions,” Roberts said after the spring outing. “The pitch mix, the stuff—it was good. That was a big, big hurdle for him.”
Now, with the Dodgers off to a scorching 6-0 start and the Braves still searching for their first win, May returns to a team that looks poised for another deep playoff run. Tuesday night’s game at Dodger Stadium represents not only a key early-season matchup, but a personal milestone for May—one few could have predicted a year ago.
He won’t be alone in shouldering pressure. Atlanta enters the game winless, and will send veteran left-hander Chris Sale to the mound in hopes of jumpstarting their season. Meanwhile, the Dodgers have proven they can win even without key players like Freddie Freeman, who missed Monday’s game with injury. Teoscar Hernández filled in admirably, blasting a two-run homer in the first inning to fuel a 6-1 win.
For May, his place in the Dodgers’ rotation is still to be determined. The team has added several arms since his last appearance, and competition is stiff. But he’s not focused on where he’ll land—he’s just grateful to be back.
“I’m just here for the ride,” May said, smiling. “I’ve got a lot more gratitude now, just being able to pitch again. It feels like a new beginning.”
That new beginning starts Tuesday night, as Dustin May steps back onto a big-league mound for the first time in over 10 months—healthy, humbled, and hungry to contribute once again.
Have you subscribed to the Bleed Los Podcast YouTube channel? Be sure to ring the notification bell to watch player interviews, participate in shows & promotions, and stay up to date on all Dodgers news and rumors!
