Dustin May's Triumphant Return: Dodgers Name Right-Hander as Fifth Starter After Two-Year Injury Battle

MLB Rumors: Dustin May's Triumphant Return: Dodgers Name Right-Hander as Fifth Starter After Two-Year Injury Battle

After enduring a grueling two-year recovery from multiple serious injuries, Dustin May has been named the fifth starter in the Los Angeles Dodgers' rotation to begin the 2025 MLB season, according to USA Today's Bob Nightengale. The opportunity arose following Tony Gonsolin's recent back injury that will land him on the injured list to start the campaign.

May, 27, has posted a 5.40 ERA with six strikeouts through five innings this spring training. Despite these modest numbers, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has been impressed by the right-hander's progress in rebuilding his strength after a series of devastating setbacks.

The Texas native underwent season-ending elbow surgery in July 2023, but his path to recovery took another unexpected turn when he tore his esophagus during rehabilitation in 2024. These compounding injuries have kept the talented pitcher off an MLB mound since May 17, 2023—a nearly two-year absence.

May's Window of Opportunity

May's position in the rotation could be temporary, as several high-profile Dodgers pitchers are expected to return throughout the season. With Shohei Ohtani, Clayton Kershaw, and Gonsolin all working toward comebacks, May faces pressure to make an immediate impact and secure his spot.

The 2020 World Series champion will accompany the Dodgers to Japan for the Tokyo Series against the Chicago Cubs on March 18-19, before likely making his first regular-season start in April.

Throughout his career, May has compiled a 12-9 record with an impressive 3.10 ERA, 174 strikeouts, and a 1.049 WHIP across 191⅔ innings. Opponents have managed just a .206 batting average against the flamethrowing right-hander.
While his long-term future with the organization remains uncertain, May's return to the major league rotation represents a significant milestone after his challenging journey back to health. For now, the 2016 third-round draft pick is simply embracing the opportunity to compete at baseball's highest level once again.