Despite high team expectations, Dodgers pitcher Dustin May feels no pressure
Ahead of the Los Angeles Dodgers series with the Texas Rangers, Justin, Texas, native Dustin May spoke about being back in the Lone Star State and his journey to the starting rotation after missing the better part of two seasons.
“I mean, last time I pitched in Texas was during the World Series. So, definitely has been a different four years getting back to pitching here than I had originally imagined. Definitely not the route that I thought that I was going to take. But, I mean, it’s always good to be back home and pitching where I’m from,” said May.
That route back from elbow surgery was thrown into disarray after May suffered an esophageal injury in 2023 caused by a piece of salad that got caught in his throat, which required surgery.
May was in the midst of one of his best seasons to date at the time, going 4-1 with a 2.63 ERA that season, pre-injury. He is 13-10 with a 2.93 ERA over his career, and spoke about how arduous the rehabilitation process was and how this injury was unique.
“I mean, the recovery was tough, definitely different than my elbow surgery, more intense, to where it was if I don’t do this recovery right, I might not ever get the mobility that I need to throw again. So definitely had to take it, like, more seriously,” said May. “It was definitely a battle to get in the five spot [and] be able to do that.”
During the 2025 season, May has gone 1-1 with a 1.06 ERA with 14 strikeouts and six walks. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has praised May for showing maturity in the way he’s started this season, and the pitcher agreed, pointing out how difficult his last few seasons were.
“I’ve definitely grown mentally, just going through all the ... tough spots that I’ve been in the last few years, and it’s definitely been a grind. But I wouldn’t trade it just because the person that I believe that I am now, the man of faith kind of turned myself into, so definitely, definitely, thank Him for everything, and being able to be blessed enough to talk.”
May also spoke about how his faith guided him through a difficult time.
“Through that process of just thanking [God], yeah, it was a terrible situation. But like, asking him the why questions,” said May. “Maybe there’s, like, some other reasons behind this that this happened, other than it just being an absolute terrible situation, trying to see the light at the end of the tunnel. It was very dim [at the time of the injury] but he definitely helped me see it.”
In his sixth MLB season after being drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the third round of the 2020 MLB Draft straight out of Northwest High School, May made his MLB debut in 2019 against the San Diego Padres.
May says Dallas-Fort Worth will always be home for him and that he trains at his old high school during the offseason. He is close with the school’s current baseball coach, who May said was an assistant when May was in high school.
“It’s kind of cool to go there,” May said. “He does a good job of, telling [his players] he’s here to work, and don’t like pester him, but I’m also there, I like to talk to guys. I don’t like to feel like I’m too big ... to talk to,” said May.
No team in MLB faces more expectations this season than the Dodgers, who are the favorites to become the first team to repeat as World Series Champions since the New York Yankees at the turn of the millennium.
However, May says, looking at what he’s faced so far in his life, he’s not feeling the pressure.
“I mean, for me, there’s so many other things in my life that have put bigger pressures on me,” said May, “This is a treat. I’m just excited to be here every day. I’m not gonna look at it as a pressure role or anything. I’m here to play baseball.”
This story was originally published April 18, 2025 at 8:02 PM.
