Dustin May Opens Up on Frustrating Second Elbow Surgery, Rehab, Return Timeline

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Dustin May has hit his share of roadblocks since undergoing Tommy John surgery back in 2021 after tearing his ulnar collateral ligament.

May returned to the field in 2022, but never felt fully recovered. Instead, his pain kept getting worse.

“I wouldn’t say that I ever felt more than probably 75 percent. It hurt every throw. Everybody always says it always hurts (after Tommy John surgery) and then one day it just clicks. I was waiting for that. Mine – instead of getting better, it kept getting worse and getting worse. It kept climbing in the wrong direction."

— Dustin May, via Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group

Ultimately, May was diagnosed in 2023 with a right flexor pronator strain that would end up requiring another major surgery. This, of course, was a disappointment for May, but something he needed to get done.

“It was definitely not what I wanted to hear when I heard that I needed surgery again. You can understand the first one. It’s, ‘Okay, I’m going to go get fixed and then I’m going to be fine and I’ll be able to stay healthy and compete.’ Then as soon as I get back basically, the same thing happens again. It’s just a gut-wrenching feeling." 

— Dustin May, via Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group

May is still coming back from his second elbow surgery, but believes he can return to pitch for the Dodgers some time in August or September.

Right now, May is still on the throwing program he began more than a month ago, and has yet to throw off a mound.