Dustin May underwent right elbow surgery on Tuesday to have his right flexor tendon repaired in addition to an ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) reconstruction revision from the Tommy John he had in 2021.
The operation performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache, who also did May’s Tommy John surgery two years ago. The Los Angeles Dodgers anticipate May returning during the second half of the 2024 season.
May’s elbow trouble began when he was removed after just one inning on May 17. He had two strikeouts and threw 16 pitches before leaving because of what the Dodgers initially deemed right elbow pain.
Manager Dave Roberts said after the game an MRI revealed May’s injury be a flexor pronator strain. “Not great right now,” Roberts added. “It’s an IL, and when he returns to play, I don’t know that answer.”
May was initially treated with a platelet-rich plasma injection that required him to be shut down from throwing for several weeks.
However, the PRP injection did not promote enough healing in May’s elbow that he previously had Tommy John surgery on in 2021. The Dodgers announced on the fourth of July that the 25-year-old would undergo season-ending surgery.
“We were expecting him to come back,” Roberts recently said. “I think if you look at how we went about the PRP, that’s a sign where we held out hope. Obviously it just didn’t take. Hearing from the doctor, surgery was the best option. Like I said, I feel for Dustin. It’s certainly a big blow, because obviously he’s very valuable.”
May went 4-1 with a 2.63 ERA, 3.27 FIP and 0.94 WHIP in nine starts this year, which was his first full season since undergoing Tommy John surgery.
Dustin May’s surgery impacts Dodgers trade deadline focus
With May lost for the rest of the 2023 season and beyond, coupled with additional injuries to starting pitchers, Roberts acknowledged those would be factors for the Dodgers leading up to the MLB trade deadline on August 1.
Thus far, the Dodgers have been linked to Chicago White Sox starter Lucas Giolito. They presumably would have interest in Shohei Ohtani as well if the Los Angeles Angels elect to part with their two-way star.
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