When the Los Angeles Dodgers announced their non-roster invitees to 2019 Spring Training, right-handed pitching prospect Dustin May expectedly was part of the group. It marked May’s first time joining the Dodgers in big league camp.
Although a starter, his Cactus League debut and two subsequent appearances were out of the bullpen. May was then given an opportunity to start, and he fared well against a Chicago Cubs lineup that featured several expected everyday players come the regular season.
As the Dodgers have trimmed the number of players in big league camp before playing their final Cactus League game, May was not among those cut.
That he’s remained in camp and is joining the Dodgers for the exhibition Freeway Series is a surprise for the 21-year-old, according to Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group:
Dustin May has been told he will head to SoCal with the #Dodgers and is scheduled to pitch during Tuesday's Freeway Series game in LA. Is he surprised? "For sure," he said. "Absolutely. I didn't think it (his time in big-league camp) would last this long."
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) March 22, 2019
By pitching on Tuesday night in the finale of three-game series, May will make his Dodger Stadium debut. He’s gone 1-0 with a 1.00 ERA and 1.00 WHIP over four games (one start) this spring. The lone run he’s allowed came on Cole Hamels’ RBI single.
May nonetheless has limited opponents to a .194 batting average and amassed eight strikeouts over nine innings pitched.
