Los Angeles Dodgers starter Dustin May returned to the mound as if no time had passed. But behind his solid performance Tuesday against the Atlanta Braves (3-1 win), there is a human story that goes beyond baseball: that of an athlete who overcame a near-death experience.
Dustin May, 27, pitched five innings, allowed just one hit and one unearned run, struck out six and gave up three walks. It was his first major league start since May 17, 2023, after spending more than a year out of action due to a double adversity: a flexor tendon injury and a serious medical incident that nearly cost him his life.
All for a salad
In 2023, during a dinner in Arizona with his wife, a piece of lettuce pierced his esophagus when he was trying to pass it with water. The damage was severe.
Dustin May underwent emergency surgery that same night to save his life.
It was his first major league start since May 17, 2023
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“There wasn’t much light at the end of the tunnel at the time,” he confessed. “I just wanted to go home and see the sunrise.”
Teammate Mookie Betts himself summed it up in disbelief, “It’s one of those stories that sounds made up, but it was real. God worked his magic.
New mentality
Buzzy
Beyond the physical, Dustin May talks about a complete change in his approach to sports and life.
“It was a total reboot. Baseball was at the back of my mind,” he said.
But on Tuesday, April 2, when he took the mound and threw a 96 mph sinker to the Braves’ first batter, he felt it was all worth it again.
After striking out Austin Riley and Matt Olson, Dustin May walked off the mound smiling, knowing he had overcome something much bigger than an opponent.
For Latino fans in the U.S., Dustin May’s story is not only an inspiration, but also a clear example of how sports can reflect the struggle and resilience that many know firsthand.
For more information, visit QueOnnda.com.
