Dustin May took the mound for the Los Angeles Dodgers a changed man.
Making his first major league start since May 17, 2023, he allowed just one hit and an unearned run over five innings in the Dodgers’ 3-1 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday night. He struck out six and walked three.
“Even if it would have went bad I still would have been having a good time just being back on a big league mound,” May said. “It literally meant the world to me just to be back on the mound because eight months ago I didn’t know if I would be.”
May spent all of last season rehabbing from a torn flexor tendon in his right arm and a life-threatening esophageal tear after eating a salad at dinner with his wife in Arizona. A piece of lettuce got caught in his throat and May sipped some water trying to clear it.
He felt a painful sensation in his throat and stomach, and later learned the lettuce had perforated his esophageal tube.
“It’s kind of one of those stories you just make up but it was actually true,” teammate Mookie Betts said. “God was just working his magic.”
May underwent emergency surgery that same night, with doctors later telling him he had sought medical attention just in time.
“After the esophagus thing happened it was like a total reset,” he said. “There’s nothing I can do at the moment, so playing baseball was at the very back of my mind. I was just trying to get healthy, get home and be able to see the next morning.”
The 6-foot-6 right-hander nicknamed Big Red closed his eyes and tilted his head toward the darkening sky before warming up Tuesday.
“I was thanking the Lord for the opportunity to be back,” he said. “There’s been a lot of praying and a lot of devotion to him in the last two years of my life and I attribute all of my success to him.”
May’s first pitch was a 96 mph sinker to Braves leadoff hitter Michael Harris II for a strike. He again leaned his head back and looked skyward. Harris struck out looking.
Up came Austin Riley, who went down swinging on five pitches. Matt Olson was next and he took a called third strike. May skipped off the mound and was greeted with high-fives from his teammates in the dugout.
“It means the world knowing that my stuff still plays,” he said. “It was good to actually get big league hitters out in a big league game.”
The noisy crowd of 50,182 welcomed him back.
“That felt great,” he said.
May appeared to induce an inning-ending double play with two on in the second, but Betts bobbled the ball and threw it away at first to let a run score. It was Betts’ first error at shortstop this season.
“I didn’t get a good grip on it,” Betts said. “Just a dumb play.”
May’s emotions used to run as hot as his flowing red hair when he first came up to the majors.
“Every pitch everything would be super high or super low,” he said.
Cheating death calmed him down.
“Just being able to stay a little bit more level-headed throughout life in general has been one of my biggest things probably in the last six months,” he said.
In 2023, May was 4-1 in nine starts with a 2.63 ERA, 34 strikeouts and 16 walks before having Tommy John revision surgery.
Little did he know that would be the least of his troubles. And never did he think eating a salad would threaten his life.
“There wasn’t really a very bright light at the end of the tunnel at the time,” he said. “I had to scratch and claw my way out and find my way back.”
This news was originally published on this post .
About the author
Celtic chairman Lawwell to step down following ‘intolerable’ abuse
Celtic chairman Peter Lawwell has revealed he is stepping down from the club's board due to "abuse and threats".The 66-year-old joined Celtic in 2003 as chief executive and held that position for 18 years before departing. He returned in 2023 as non-executive chairman. However, he has faced criticism from supporters in recent months. In a statement, he said: "It is with sadness that I announce my decision to stand down as chairman of Celtic FC."I believe that my 18 years as chief executive and three years as chairman at the club have shown my ability to meet and overcome challenges on many fronts, but abuse and threats from some sources have increased and are now intolerable. "They have dismayed and alarmed my family. At this stage in my life, I don't need this. I cannot accept this and so I […]
Palmeiras volta atenção para meia do futebol mexicano e inicia negociação
Marcel Ruíz em ação pelo Toluca. Foto: Newscom/Alamy Live NewsO Palmeiras retomou contatos com o Toluca, do México, para avaliar uma nova investida pelo meio-campista Marcel Ruíz. O nome já havia sido discutido internamente durante a última janela de transferências, mas a negociação não avançou naquele momento. A informação foi divulgada pelo ge e confirmada pela ESPN nesta quarta-feira (17). PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADEApesar do movimento recente, o cenário segue complexo. Assim como na tentativa anterior, o clube paulista encontra obstáculos relevantes que reduzem as chances de um acordo. Até agora, o Verdão não formalizou nenhuma proposta oficial pelo jogador.As negociações ocorrem em momento de tensão nos bastidores do Palmeiras. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADEAntigo alvo volta ao radar do VerdãoMarcel Ruíz foi um dos nomes monitorados pelo Palmeiras no meio do ano, quando a diretoria buscava reforços para o meio-campo. As conversas, no entanto, […]
Bloomfield: Luton was heartbreaking but I am ready for next challenge
Christmas at home for Matt Bloomfield is a rarity having spent his entire adult life in football but it does not mean time off. Having also visited clubs in the Premier League and Championship since leaving Luton, even reading is research to him."I have just started Gareth Southgate's book," he tells Sky Sports. "I admire the way he conducts himself, how he treats people. I am also reading Eleven Rings by Phil Jackson." Studying the career of the legendary basketball coach is not about escapism. "All I read about is leadership because I feel like I am learning," explains Bloomfield. "I read books and I go on courses. I cannot just sit at home and do nothing. When I go into the next job, I want to feel like I have a higher chance of success because of this break." […]
Broadhead: Wrexham return, his fee and aims of PL return
For Nathan Broadhead, returning to Wrexham was more of a spiritual return, rather than a literal one."I moved from here to Everton when I was 10 for about ten grand so it was too long ago to feel like a full homecoming," Broadhead tells Sky Sports. "I didn’t expect to come back, especially with where the club was when I left. The club has gone through the leagues like I’ve never seen before. "My parents still live about an hour and a half away, more north towards Bangor. I’m kind of from the middle of nowhere really."From a £10k sale to a reported purchase that could rise to £10million. Both Broadhead and Wrexham have come a long way. Image: Broadhead celebrates scoring for Wrexham The Welsh club shattered their transfer record to bring the 27-year-old forward to the Racecourse Ground. […]
Novos valores de mercado: já há data para a atualização dos jogadores da Liga Portugal Betclic
Update a caminho ©TM/IMAGO Como já é habitual nesta fase do ano, e agora que dezembro já chegou, o Transfermarkt tem estado a atualizar os valores de mercado dos futebolistas de vários campeonatos um pouco por todo o mundo. Nesse sentido, revelamos, tal como se pode verificar na imagem disponibilizada abaixo, as datas dos próximos updates que iremos levar a cabo nas principais ligas.Naturalmente, entre os diversos campeonatos cujas cotações serão revistas pelas nossas diferentes equipas de especialistas, encontra-se a Liga Portugal Betclic. Os novos valores de mercado dos jogadores do principal escalão do futebol luso serão lançados já nesta quinta-feira, dia 18 de dezembro.Fica atento ao nosso site e às páginas do Transfermarkt Portugal nas redes sociais para ficares a par de todas as novidades.
Internacional comprará Carbonero em definitivo
Carbonero em campo pelo Internacional. Foto: AGIF/Alamy Live NewsO Internacional deu um passo importante no planejamento do elenco para a próxima temporada e decidiu exercer a opção de compra do atacante Johan Carbonero. Emprestado pelo Racing, da Argentina, o colombiano seguirá no Beira-Rio após o clube gaúcho comunicar oficialmente os argentinos sobre a decisão. O valor da negociação é de US$ 4 milhões, e o jogador assinará contrato definitivo com o Colorado até o final de 2027. A informação foi divulgada pela ESPN da Argentina. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADECom a permanência de Carbonero, o Internacional se antecipa ao mercado e evita perder um dos principais destaques do elenco para concorrentes diretos. O atacante de 26 anos vinha despertando o interesse de outros clubes brasileiros, especialmente do Botafogo, que busca reforços para atuar pelos lados do campo. A diretoria alvinegra via no colombiano […]
Related
Celtic chairman Lawwell to step down following ‘intolerable’ abuse
Celtic chairman Peter Lawwell has revealed he is stepping down from the club's board due to "abuse and threats".The 66-year-old joined Celtic in 2003 as chief executive and held that position for 18 years before departing. He returned in 2023 as non-executive chairman. However, he has faced criticism from supporters in recent months. In a statement, he said: "It is with sadness that I announce my decision to stand down as chairman of Celtic FC."I believe that my 18 years as chief executive and three years as chairman at the club have shown my ability to meet and overcome challenges on many fronts, but abuse and threats from some sources have increased and are now intolerable. "They have dismayed and alarmed my family. At this stage in my life, I don't need this. I cannot accept this and so I […]
Palmeiras volta atenção para meia do futebol mexicano e inicia negociação
Marcel Ruíz em ação pelo Toluca. Foto: Newscom/Alamy Live NewsO Palmeiras retomou contatos com o Toluca, do México, para avaliar uma nova investida pelo meio-campista Marcel Ruíz. O nome já havia sido discutido internamente durante a última janela de transferências, mas a negociação não avançou naquele momento. A informação foi divulgada pelo ge e confirmada pela ESPN nesta quarta-feira (17). PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADEApesar do movimento recente, o cenário segue complexo. Assim como na tentativa anterior, o clube paulista encontra obstáculos relevantes que reduzem as chances de um acordo. Até agora, o Verdão não formalizou nenhuma proposta oficial pelo jogador.As negociações ocorrem em momento de tensão nos bastidores do Palmeiras. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADEAntigo alvo volta ao radar do VerdãoMarcel Ruíz foi um dos nomes monitorados pelo Palmeiras no meio do ano, quando a diretoria buscava reforços para o meio-campo. As conversas, no entanto, […]
Bloomfield: Luton was heartbreaking but I am ready for next challenge
Christmas at home for Matt Bloomfield is a rarity having spent his entire adult life in football but it does not mean time off. Having also visited clubs in the Premier League and Championship since leaving Luton, even reading is research to him."I have just started Gareth Southgate's book," he tells Sky Sports. "I admire the way he conducts himself, how he treats people. I am also reading Eleven Rings by Phil Jackson." Studying the career of the legendary basketball coach is not about escapism. "All I read about is leadership because I feel like I am learning," explains Bloomfield. "I read books and I go on courses. I cannot just sit at home and do nothing. When I go into the next job, I want to feel like I have a higher chance of success because of this break." […]
Broadhead: Wrexham return, his fee and aims of PL return
For Nathan Broadhead, returning to Wrexham was more of a spiritual return, rather than a literal one."I moved from here to Everton when I was 10 for about ten grand so it was too long ago to feel like a full homecoming," Broadhead tells Sky Sports. "I didn’t expect to come back, especially with where the club was when I left. The club has gone through the leagues like I’ve never seen before. "My parents still live about an hour and a half away, more north towards Bangor. I’m kind of from the middle of nowhere really."From a £10k sale to a reported purchase that could rise to £10million. Both Broadhead and Wrexham have come a long way. Image: Broadhead celebrates scoring for Wrexham The Welsh club shattered their transfer record to bring the 27-year-old forward to the Racecourse Ground. […]
Novos valores de mercado: já há data para a atualização dos jogadores da Liga Portugal Betclic
Update a caminho ©TM/IMAGO Como já é habitual nesta fase do ano, e agora que dezembro já chegou, o Transfermarkt tem estado a atualizar os valores de mercado dos futebolistas de vários campeonatos um pouco por todo o mundo. Nesse sentido, revelamos, tal como se pode verificar na imagem disponibilizada abaixo, as datas dos próximos updates que iremos levar a cabo nas principais ligas.Naturalmente, entre os diversos campeonatos cujas cotações serão revistas pelas nossas diferentes equipas de especialistas, encontra-se a Liga Portugal Betclic. Os novos valores de mercado dos jogadores do principal escalão do futebol luso serão lançados já nesta quinta-feira, dia 18 de dezembro.Fica atento ao nosso site e às páginas do Transfermarkt Portugal nas redes sociais para ficares a par de todas as novidades.
Internacional comprará Carbonero em definitivo
Carbonero em campo pelo Internacional. Foto: AGIF/Alamy Live NewsO Internacional deu um passo importante no planejamento do elenco para a próxima temporada e decidiu exercer a opção de compra do atacante Johan Carbonero. Emprestado pelo Racing, da Argentina, o colombiano seguirá no Beira-Rio após o clube gaúcho comunicar oficialmente os argentinos sobre a decisão. O valor da negociação é de US$ 4 milhões, e o jogador assinará contrato definitivo com o Colorado até o final de 2027. A informação foi divulgada pela ESPN da Argentina. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADECom a permanência de Carbonero, o Internacional se antecipa ao mercado e evita perder um dos principais destaques do elenco para concorrentes diretos. O atacante de 26 anos vinha despertando o interesse de outros clubes brasileiros, especialmente do Botafogo, que busca reforços para atuar pelos lados do campo. A diretoria alvinegra via no colombiano […]
Be the first to leave a comment