Dustin May returned to the mound for the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday night, marking his first major league start since May 17, 2023. He delivered an impressive performance, allowing just one hit and an unearned run over five innings, leading the Dodgers to a 3-1 victory over the Atlanta Braves. May struck out six batters and walked three, showcasing his resilience and determination.
Reflecting on his comeback, May shared, “Even if it would have gone bad, I still would have been having a good time just being back on a big league mound. It literally meant the world to me just to be back because eight months ago I didn’t know if I would be.”
May spent the entire previous season recovering from a torn flexor tendon in his right arm and a life-threatening esophageal tear caused by an unexpected incident—he accidentally swallowed a piece of lettuce that perforated his esophageal tube during a dinner with his wife in Arizona. The situation quickly escalated, and May required emergency surgery that same night. Doctors later informed him that seeking medical attention promptly had saved his life.
“The esophagus injury was like a total reset,” May recalled. “There’s nothing I can do at the moment, so playing baseball was at the very back of my mind. I was just trying to get healthy, get home, and be able to see the next morning.”
Before warming up for his first game back, May took a moment to thank the Lord, reflecting on the prayers and faith that had guided him through his recovery.
His first pitch of the game was a 96 mph sinker, striking out Braves leadoff hitter Michael Harris II. May continued to dominate, fanning Austin Riley and Matt Olson in quick succession, drawing cheers from the crowd of 50,182.
“It means the world knowing that my stuff still plays,” May said. “It was good to actually get big league hitters out in a big league game.”
An error by teammate Mookie Betts allowed an unearned run to score, but May remained composed, demonstrating the emotional growth he’s experienced since his early days in the majors.
“Back then, every pitch was either super high or super low,” May said. “Cheating death has calmed me down. Just being able to stay a little bit more level-headed throughout life in general has been one of my biggest things probably in the last six months.”
In 2023, May had a solid season before undergoing Tommy John revision surgery, finishing with a 4-1 record, a 2.63 ERA, 34 strikeouts, and 16 walks. His journey back from both physical injury and a near-death experience has been nothing short of remarkable.
“There wasn’t really a very bright light at the end of the tunnel at the time,” he admitted. “I had to scratch and claw my way out and find my way back.”
