Dodgers Pitcher Opens Up on Emotional Return to Mound After Near-Death Experience
Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Dustin May returned to the mound on April 1, almost two full years since his last Major League start in 2023.
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In a freak accident, May had to undergo emergency surgery due to a piece of lettuce that was lodged in his throat.
“There was definitely a lot of emotions that got let out,” May said to Jack Harris of The Los Angeles Times. “It was just super, super great to be back out there.”
This spring, May was one of three starting pitchers competing for the final spot in the rotation. The right-hander earned the spot and had one of his best outings against the Atlanta Braves.
May gave up just one hit across five innings pitched and fanned six batters.
“Just knowing that everything that I’ve been through in the last two years, it was just a huge weight lifted off my shoulders, and it was like I could just kind of relax,” May said. “Being able to stay a little bit more levelheaded throughout life in general has been one of my biggest things in the last six months. Just trying to live in the moment. [Knowing] everything is going to be OK no matter what happens.”
The medical emergency May endured last July made the strong start that much sweeter for the 27-year-old.
May saw his teammates a few months after his surgery, and was 40 pounds lighter after a required liquid-only diet. He showed coaches his scar (a long, vertical incision the length of his chest) from the procedure.
“It almost looked like an open-heart-type surgery,” Prior said of the scar. “So to see where he’s at now, it’s pretty incredible.”
While May’s near-death experience was anything but ideal, the health trial provoked the right-hander to grow in ways he never would have.
“To watch him mature and grow up in his own way, he’s just got a nice pro presence around him right now,” assistant pitching coach Connor McGuiness said. “As scary as it was, I think it put some things in perspective for him.”
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Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
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