Less than one week after Max Muncy was hit by a pitch in his right wrist and the day before Joc Pederson would crash into the wall at Dodger Stadium, the Los Angeles Dodgers endured an injury scare when Dustin May was hit in the head by a line drive.
The ball ricocheted into left field for a game-tying, two-run single before play came to a grinding halt. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and a trainer rushed out to check on May as he teammates gathered around the mound and a silence fell over Chase Field.
May was helped to his feet and walked off his under his own power, which was an early reason for optimism. That was further supported when May passed concussion protocol and was able to make light of the situation by expressing his frustration over failing to snag the line drive.
Although all appears to be well with May, the Dodgers continue to monitor their young prospect. “I think there’s another concussion test but in talking to him and the doctors, he’s in a good place,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “There’s a little soreness with the neck.
“I think that’s more of a byproduct of hitting the ground and kind of being in a mini car accident. But as far as the ball off the head, just a little bit of residual soreness. He’s fine, played catch, so we’ll figure out when we’re going to see him.”
The incident cut May’s relief appearance to just five batters faced. It’s a role he is auditioning for with respect to potentially making the Dodgers’ postseason roster.
May’s first relief appearance entailed surrendering a grand slam and blown lead before returning to the mound and completing a scoreless inning. Prior to being hit in the head, he allowed the Diamondbacks to load the bases on three consecutive singles with one out.
Heading into that relief appearance, May said he was going to focus on carrying forward the same routine and approach that’s lent to success as a starter. He’d previously contemplated finding a new routine if the Dodgers were to move forward with a role out of the bullpen.
