Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Dustin May's 2024 season has come to an abrupt end after undergoing esophagus surgery over the weekend.
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Dustin May's 2024 season has been cut short after he underwent esophagus surgery over the weekend. The team announced the news on Sunday, stating that May had experienced discomfort after a dinner earlier in the week and was diagnosed with a tear in his esophagus.
The 25-year-old righty sought medical attention the following day for pain in his throat and stomach. ESPN reported that May was subsequently diagnosed with a tear in his throat, which required immediate surgical intervention. The surgery was successful, but May will be sidelined for the next two months as he recovers.
Dodgers Pitcher May's 2024 Season Ends Due to Esophagus Surgery
This latest setback is a major blow to the Dodgers, who have been plagued by injuries in their pitching rotation all season long. May was set to begin a rehab assignment after recovering from a second Tommy John surgery he had undergone nearly a year ago. He had not appeared in a Dodgers game yet this season.
May's injury history has been extensive. He has made only 20 appearances over the last three seasons, recording 98 strikeouts in 101 innings. He made his Major League debut in 2019 and was expected to become one of the faces to lead the Dodgers' rotation into a new era after recording a 2.57 ERA in 12 games during the coronavirus pandemic-shortened season.
Dodgers Pitcher May's 2024 Season Ends Due to Esophagus Surgery
However, May's progress has been hampered by a series of injuries. He underwent Tommy John surgery in 2021, which kept him out for most of the 2021 and 2022 seasons. He then suffered a flexor tendon injury, which cost him most of the 2023 season.
In addition to May, the Dodgers' pitching rotation has been decimated by injuries all season long. Clayton Kershaw, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow, and Walker Buhler are all currently on the mend. Shohei Ohtani, who was acquired by the Dodgers in a blockbuster trade earlier this season, won't be able to pitch until 2025.
Dodgers Pitcher May's 2024 Season Ends Due to Esophagus Surgery
The Dodgers will now have to navigate the rest of the season without several key members of their rotation. It remains to be seen how they will fill the void left by May's absence, but it is clear that his injury is a major setback for their World Series aspirations.
