Dodgers News: Surgery Was On the Table for Dustin May

Scary news for the right-hander who is two years removed from Tommy John surgery.

The Dodgers lost starter Dustin May last week to a forearm strain that will cost him at least two months on the injured list, if not more. Images from Dodger Stadium as he was pulled after just one inning were heartbreaking to look at. May had his face buried into a towel letting out his frustrations over the setback. 

We now know why he was as emotional as he was.

Andrew Friedman, head of baseball operations for the Dodgers shared with the OC Register this week that surgery was initially on the table for the 25-year-old right-hander.

The Dodgers will know more about May’s potential return when they are closer to the trade deadline. Friedman acknowledged that “initially” surgery was a possibility for May.

“I think now we’re in a good spot where that doesn’t seem like something we’ll need to do,” Friedman said.

Instead, May received a platelet-rich plasma injection and will not throw for a minimum of four weeks. After that, he will be re-evaluated.

Dustin was off to a great start this season after a long battle back from season-ending Tommy John surgery in 2021. He struggled some in his return to action last season but this year everything looked like May was primed to be a top pitcher in baseball.

Now he'll lose another few months of baseball and try to work his way back to being an option for the team as early as August. It could have been worse, but the organization has hope that the injury was caught in time.

May was 4-1 with a 2.63 ERA over 9 starts for the Dodgers this year.