The Los Angeles Dodgers selected the contract of Dustin May and optioned Dylan Floro to Triple-A Oklahoma City. L.A. additionally recalled Tony Gonsolin and placed Hyun-Jin Ryu on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to Aug. 1, due to neck soreness.
May is set to make his MLB debut Friday night with a start against the San Diego Padres. He becomes the seventh Dodgers player to appear in his first Major League game this season.
May began the 2019 campaign with Double-A Tulsa before earning a promotion to Oklahoma City in June. He went a combined 6-5 with a 3.38 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 110 strikeouts in 106.2 innings pitched across 20 starts for the affiliates.
The 21-year-old fared better with Oklahoma City than the Drillers, and despite pitching in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League, did not surrender a home run in 27.1 innings. May was identified as potential candidate to receive a call-up this year, though likely not until September.
“When I got to Oklahoma City, I thought that was awesome,” May said in his first interview after arriving at Dodger Stadium. “And so soon as they told me I was coming here, it definitely caught me by surprise.”
Although May’s debut with the Dodgers comes in the form of a start, he’s thought to under consideration for a potential role in their bullpen come the postseason. However, manager Dave Roberts cautioned looking that far ahead. He also left open the possibility May makes multiple starts.
“I think every opportunity is an audition for somebody. As a young player, Dustin hasn’t really had an opportunity to prove himself at this level,” Roberts said. “He’s earned this opportunity to pitch here.
“For us to put eyes on him at this level, on this stage, I think is important. As we go, it’ll become more clear what role we have for not only Dustin but a lot of our guys.”
Ryu last pitched on Wednesday, throwing six shutout innings at Coors Field. This marks a second time this season he’s been sidelined by injury as a groin strain required a stint on the IL in April.
Floro is headed to Oklahoma City a mere two days after he returned from the 10-day injured list after dealing with his own neck trouble. Floro walked two batters but worked a scoreless eighth inning in the series opener against the Padres.
Gonsolin joins the Dodgers for a third time this season and is eligible to return despite being optioned on July 31 by virtue of replacing an injured player. Gonsolin converted a four-inning save in his last appearance for the Dodgers.
Scott Alexander was transferred to the 60-day injured list as the corresponding move to create room for May on the Dodgers’ 40-man roster.
