Dodgers Rumors: Dustin May to Miss Rest of 2024 Season After Torn Esophagus Surgery

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Dustin May will reportedly miss the remainder of the 2024 season after undergoing surgery to repair a torn esophagus, per ESPN's Jeff Passan.

May has yet to appear for the Dodgers this season as he has been recovering from surgery last year to repair a torn flexor tendon in his right arm.

According to Passan, May was scheduled to begin rehabilitation assignments in the coming weeks, but surgery requires him to avoid physical activity for the next two months. Passan also reported the esophageal tear was suffered in a non-baseball setting.

Last season, May threw 34 strikeouts and recorded a 2.63 ERA and a career-best 0.94 WHIP in nine appearances.

The 26-year-old's best year came during the shortened 2020 season when he notched 44 strikeouts and a 2.57 ERA, both career-highs, while appearing in 12 games. He pitched 10.2 innings in the postseason, including two appearances in the World Series against the Tampa Bay Rays.

After his standout season, May struggled with several injuries, suffering a torn elbow ligament that required Tommy John surgery in 2021. That surgery limited him to just 11 games across the 2021 and 2022 seasons. He then underwent the procedure on his flexor in 2023 and appeared in just nine games.

The report of May's season-ending surgery comes amid a slew of injuries to the Dodgers' rotation and bullpen. Starters Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Walker Buehler, Clayton Kershaw and Emmet Sheehan are all currently on the injured list, as well as relievers Brusdar Graterol, Joe Kelly and Ryan Brasier.

Starter Tyler Glasnow was recently placed on the 15-day IL, but he is not expected to miss much time.