The Los Angeles Dodgers have an immensely talented young arm currently on the shelf, rehabbing from Tommy John surgery.
Dustin May, the red-headed phenom who took over the league in April 2021, is taking the first steps in his throwing program.
Let’s recap the events: after a shortened 2020 season in which May impressed with his stuff and ERA (2.57), analysts said he got a tad lucky because he didn’t miss enough bats, as his 7.07 K/9 (strikeouts per nine innings) suggested.
He worked on refining his stuff in the offseason, and the early 2021 results were amazing.
He made five starts and covered 23 innings, posting a 2.74 ERA and a 13.70 (!) K/9.
The Long Road Back
He looked very, very good, until he blew up his elbow in early May, needing the Tommy John surgery.
Needless to say, he has been out ever since.
The pitcher hopes to throw off a mound next month, and is targeting a return in the latter third of the season.
Dustin May said yesterday he hopes to throw off a mound next month, targeting a return in the latter third of the season. https://t.co/NLfrFjmUKi
— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) March 15, 2022
A few days ago, he tweeted that he played catch for the first time on Monday since undergoing the elbow reconstruction surgery.
May remains a big piece in the Dodgers’ pitching plans, but we will probably not see him until after the All-Star break.
He has to throw off a mound, then throw live batting practice (facing hitters), and then go on a rather long rehab assignment.
That process should take at least a few months if the Dodgers want to do it right.
With the expanded playoffs (and even without them, to be honest), they are almost a lock to make the postseason, so they can afford to give May some time to shake off the rust.
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