After making just six starts during the tail end of the 2022 season due to recovering from Tommy John surgery, Dustin May went into this year’s campaign expecting to fill a prominent role for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
But May’s first full season since undergoing ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) surgery ended early due to more right elbow trouble. He managed to make just nine starts, the last of which was only one inning on May 17. May had two strikeouts and threw 16 pitches before leaving because of what the Dodgers initially deemed right elbow pain.
May ultimately underwent surgery to repair his right flexor tendon repaired in addition to UCL reconstruction revision from the Tommy John he had in 2021.
Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes said May has not yet started throwing since the operation in July and suggested a return during the 2024 season is not guaranteed, per Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic:
They also are “not going to push it” with Dustin May, who hasn’t picked up a baseball yet and isn’t a guarantee to pitch in 2024 after undergoing a flexor tendon repair and Tommy John revision in July.
May went 4-1 with a 2.63 ERA, 3.27 FIP and 0.94 WHIP this year.
Since returning from Tommy John surgery, he’s a combined 6-4 with a 3.35 ERA, 3.67 FIP and 1.03 WHIP in 15 starts over parts of two seasons.
Dustin May timetable for return
May initially was 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 and it ultimately led to season-ending surgery.
“We were expecting him to come back,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said in July. “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’s rough timeline for a return from his latest surgery was originally projected to be roughly 12 months. Barring any setbacks with the rehab process, he conceivably could be back on a mound for the Dodgers at some point during the second half of the 2024 season even if the team takes a conservative approach.
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