Dodgers' Dustin May: Struggles in second spring outing
Rotowire
May allowed four runs (three earned) on one hit and two walks while striking out two batters over one-plus inning in a Cactus League start against the Angels on Friday.
This was May's second appearance this spring -- he pitched a scoreless frame last Sunday against San Diego. The right-hander didn't fare anywhere near as well this time around, though he started off great by striking out the first two batters he faced in a scoreless first inning. May was unable to get an out after returning for the second frame, however, as he walked the first two batters in the inning, saw an error by third baseman Max Muncy load the bases and then served up a grand slam to Jo Adell. May managed to hit 97 mph with his fastball, so he seems to be close to the velocity he displayed prior to undergoing right flexor tendon and UCL reconstruction surgery in July of 2023.
May allowed one hit and struck out one batter over one scoreless inning in Sunday's Cactus League game against San Diego.
It was a successful return to game action for May, who missed all of last season while rehabbing from the right elbow surgery he underwent in July of 2023. The fireballer had resumed throwing off a mound last summer but had his progress halted when he needed throat surgery for an esophageal tear in July. May now appears to be back to full health, and he could either win a spot at the back of the Dodgers' rotation or open the campaign as part of the team's bullpen.
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Dodgers' Dustin May: Could open season in bullpen
Rotowire
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Friday that May is a possibility to open the season in the bullpen, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.
May is among the competitors for the final spot in the Dodgers' rotation. However, he cannot be optioned to the minor leagues, so he should be part of the Opening Day roster in some capacity. The 27-year-old missed all of 2024 and made a total of just 20 starts from 2021-23 due to injuries. May's absence in 2024 was due to his continued recovery from UCL and flexor surgery and later an esophageal tear, but he is healthy at the start of camp.
The Dodgers and May (elbow, throat) avoided arbitration Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $2.135 million contract, the Associated Press reports.
May -- who had been arbitration-eligible for the final time -- missed the entire 2024 season while recovering from UCL and flexor surgery and later had another operation to repair an esophageal tear. The 27-year-old made a total of just 20 starts from 2021-23 due to injury. May should be healthy for the start of spring training, but it's not clear when he might be ready to make starts for the Dodgers given how much time he's missed.
Dodgers' Dustin May: Has season-ending throat surgery
Rotowire
May (elbow) underwent a season-ending surgery to repair a torn esophagus, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
May has been rehabbing from a procedure he had in July 2023 to repair a torn flexor tendon in his throwing arm and was expected to begin a rehab assignment in the coming weeks. However, he'll have to wait until 2025 to return and will be shut down from physical activity for at least two months as result of the throat procedure. The injury occurred in a non-baseball setting. The Dodgers have been dealing with a handful of injuries to their top starters this season, and May's return was expected to ease some of those struggles. For now, James Paxton and Gavin Stone will serve as the Dodgers' top two starters while Tyler Glasnow (back) and Clayton Kershaw (shoulder) are expected to rejoin the rotation in late July or early August.
