What could go wrong while eating a healthy salad? Nothing really, but it has altered the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Dustin May’s life for as long as 648 days. The star pitcher returned to the mound after a long stretch of pause from any playing action for almost two years.
May’s return was marked by facing off against the San Diego Padres in the Dodgers’ 8-3 Cactus League victory. He pitched one scoreless inning and showed some flashes of the older May that made him a promising star before his lengthy absence.
May’s journey back to the diamond has been anything but ordinary. The right elbow surgeries he endured were Tommy John surgery in 2021 and flexor tendon surgery in 2023. All of these struggles seem almost minor compared to the harrowing experience he faced last summer. During a dinner outing, a piece of salad became lodged in his throat, leading to a torn esophagus that required emergency surgery.
“I would have been six feet under that night,” May said while recalling the life-altering event.
Incase anyone missed it….. IM BACK😁 pic.twitter.com/2OcQuJ5kq9
— Dustin May (@d_maydabeast) February 23, 2025
Despite the challenges, the moment Sunday was filled with joy. As he left the mound, May was met with enthusiastic high-fives and hugs from his Dodgers teammates.
“It felt amazing just to be back. A huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders… It was really heavy. I’m alive. I’m glad I’m here,” the Dodgers star added.
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However, his performance was promising. After allowing the first two batters to reach base, May induced a double play and struck out Oscar Gonzalez with a blistering 95-mph four-seam fastball.
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Dustin May’s Wife’s Suggestion For Medical Attention Saved Dodgers Star’s Life
To many, Dustin May’s return to action might be just a comeback, but it all started very ugly. The Dodgers pitcher experienced a shocking health scare when a seemingly innocuous bite of salad led to a life-threatening condition. After swallowing a piece of lettuce, May felt an intense pain in his throat for about 15 minutes.
Although the pain subsided, his wife, Millie, urged him to seek medical attention. It turned out that he had suffered a severe rupture of his esophagus. It later proved to be the right call as the condition required immediate emergency surgery. This unexpected event not only sidelined his baseball career but also forced him to confront the fragility of life.
Dustin May was recovering from elbow surgery last July when a near-death experience forced him to undergo emergency esophagus surgery.
— MLB (@MLB) February 23, 2025
His first outing since that incident was an emotional one 💙 pic.twitter.com/XnZyzULwNJ
The surgery, described by May as “essentially a full abdominal surgery,” was critical for his survival. It marked a significant setback in a season that he had hoped would lead to a triumphant return to the mound after recovering from previous injuries.
Instead of rejoining the Dodgers as they made a run for the World Series, May found himself starting over with rehabilitation. Following the procedure, he was unable to lift anything heavier than 10 pounds for six months.
