Dodgers' Dustin May to undergo Tommy John surgery, out for season

The worst fears of the Los Angeles Dodgers and their fans have been realized on the first Monday of May. 

Los Angeles confirmed on Monday that promising young pitcher Dustin May will undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery to repair damage to his ulnar collateral ligament. Per Alden Gonzalez of ESPN, May is set to be sidelined anywhere between 12 and 16 months. 

The 23-year-old suffered the injury pitching against the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday and exited that game after only 27 pitches with pain in the elbow of his throwing arm. Some pitchers are able to avoid having an operation by resting a UCL injury for an amount of time, but that's not the case in May's situation. 

May finishes his campaign with a 1-1 record and a 2.74 ERA in five starts. He finished the pandemic-shortened 2020 season fifth in National League Rookie of the Year voting.

The reigning World Series champions began Monday second in the NL West standings at 17-12, a half-game behind the San Francisco Giants (17-11).