Dustin May’s last start for the Los Angeles Dodgers came on May 17, 2023, meaning he will break a 685-day streak when he takes the mound against the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday.
May’s raw talent on the mound is undeniable and it has translated well in his Major League career thus far. But he has only managed 46 starts since making his MLB debut back in 2019. Although the Major League life is nothing new to May, he’s much more eager to start Tuesday due to his circumstances.
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In a way, the whirlwind that comes with being called up while the season is in progress helped May stay as composed as one can be in the midst of a such a monumental milestone. He’s had much more time to sit with his thoughts this time around, which has led to heightened emotions.
“I feel like there’s going to be a lot more emotions for me because of all the time I’ve had to think about it,” May said.
“When I first got called up for my debut, it was like a four-day thing, so it was right on it. For this, I was waiting for 13 months, and then the esophagus thing happened. That changed my perspective on a lot of things in life.”
As part of the newer generation of players, May has often worn his emotions on his sleeve when on the mound. He expects to be slightly more tempered this season amid a renewed focus and approach, but the fire he’s displayed in the past is still in there.
“I definitely have the spark inside of me, for sure. It’s definitely in there. It’s starting to wake up a little bit as I’m starting to get back into games a little bit more,” May noted.
“It was definitely very calm and collected, but as I’m starting to get back into games and get my feel, get my feet back under me, it’s definitely coming back.
“It’s definitely going to be more on the shadowed side, but it will come out every now and then.”
Dustin May ‘excited’ to be in Dodgers rotation
May was one of three players competing for the fifth and final spot in the Dodgers’ rotation in the spring.
He won the job by physically being the last man standing, with Bobby Miller and Tony Gonsolin succumbing to injuries, but May is hoping to take full advantage of the opportunity he was given.
“It means a lot. It means all the work I put in over the last three years, four years, is paying off,” he said. “I’m just excited for the opportunity to go out and just play. I haven’t played very much, so I’m just excited for the opportunity.”
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