From being put through the ringer during repeated high-leverage outings in the 2020 postseason to competing for the fifth starter job confidently and with a smile, young Dodgers ace Dustin May has routinely brought the right attitude to the diamond.
We wouldn’t expect him to attack his forthcoming rehab any differently, either.
May departed the mound quickly during his start against the Brewers on May 1 with a concerning arm injury, operating at a lower velocity before pulling the trigger.
Just a few days later, our worst fears were realized, as May required Tommy John surgery to fix his torn UCL, knocking him out for what will likely be the majority of the 2022 season as well.
Leave it to May, though, to be upbeat even in his most challenging moments.
Fans heard from the Dodgers righty for the first time post-surgery on Wednesday, with a Kendrick Lamar-themed post that proves he’ll be back up and running in no time. The first step’s been accomplished.
Dodgers young ace Dustin May is on the road to recovery.
From what we saw of May, he’s got a bright future in this game. In fact, his arsenal of pitches looks almost nothing like what the rest of the league is bringing. His fastballs operate at a higher velocity than even MLB’s foremost flamethrowers, and they slice across the zone like frisbees.
Simply put, May is one of a kind and impossible to replace. We also fully believe in his journey.
For now, we’ll just have to sit on the memories for quite a while, though, like the time May carved up our supposed rival the San Diego Padres, displaying a 99 MPH fastball deep into the proceedings.
The Dodgers designed their rotation to have the type of depth that allows them to bounce back from a serious injury, but they weren’t anticipating both Tony Gonsolin and David Price struggling to build themselves up, too.
In the long run, Los Angeles will be fine, though. May will be watching from afar.
Dodgers: 3 replacements for Dustin May after Tommy John surgery news
The Los Angeles Dodgers lost Dustin May for the year due to Tommy John surgery. Who can replace him? We have some internal and external options.