Dustin May's Dodgers comeback bid gets big boost ahead of Opening Day

Dustin May made an emotional return to the mound on Feb. 23, almost two years after he last appeared for the Dodgers in May 2023. He pitched that last start against the Twins but only completed one inning before being pulled with elbow pain. That July, he underwent two surgeries, one on his flexor tendon and a Tommy John revision to treat a UCL sprain.

There was a distant possibility he could return to the mound in the late months of the 2024 season, but an esophageal tear completely unrelated to baseball had him undergoing another surgery and delaying his return further to 2025.

The rub with May has always been his health. He's made starts that have been brilliant, and he placed fifth in NL Rookie of the Year voting in 2020, but he's never been able to pitch more than the 56 innings he logged during that COVID-shortened season.

This year, the Dodgers have a battle for the last spot in the rotation that really comes down to May, Tony Gonsolin, and Bobby Miller. Given established track records, Gonsolin seemed like the most obvious candidate to win it, but former Dodger and current Dodgers broadcaster José Mota put his money on May.

"I would say [May] has an inside track with being a starter because Tony [Gonsolin], as good as he is — he was an All-Star, went 16-1 just a couple of years ago, let's not forget about Tony Gonsolin — Tony can help you more maybe in the middle of a game," he said.

David Adler of MLB.com also listed May as one of 12 early spring training standouts, highlighting his curveball as part of his arsenal that already looks lethal and noting it "has the highest-spin curve of any pitcher this spring."

Dustin May garnering praise for spring training performance in competition for last spot in Dodgers' rotation

The Dodgers have limited May to just one inning in both of his spring appearances so far. He was almost perfect in his first outing, giving up just one hit, but got shook in his second, giving up four hits (including a grand slam from Jo Adell) and two walks.

There's a lot of incentive not to give May a spot in the rotation again, and his health is the biggest one. You could argue that his impressive curveball would be better utilized in high-leverage relief innings, and fewer innings would mean mitigating the possibility of further injury.

However, May, the Dodgers' No. 2 prospect in 2020, has never truly had a real shot at being a full-fledged starter; injury has always gotten in the way. The Dodgers could give that chance again this season, but it means risking having things go sideways again this season, and maybe even putting an end to his career entirely.

The vote of confidence is nice, but his career longevity remains in everyone's best interest, so perhaps May is best suited for the bullpen in 2025.