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Dodgers: Dustin May’s Rehab from Elbow Surgery Affected by MLB Lockout

While the league and players union fight over money during this lockout, there’s more than meets the eye in terms of what is, and who are affected by the squabbling. Players on MLB 40-man rosters lost access to privileges that come with being employed by a big league team. For the Dodgers and right-handed pitcher Dustin May, it means that he has to continue his rehabilitation from Tommy John surgery on his own.

The 24-year-old, who underwent the operation back in May of this year, had just recently progressed to throwing a baseball again after a long six month shutdown. He had been working out at the Dodgers’ spring training facilities in Arizona, but now the doors are locked.

At least until a new collective bargaining agreement can be worked out.

Notably, Dustin is among the many locked out big leaguers that have changed their social media avatar to a generic image.

Dodgers: Dustin May Continues His Recovery from Tommy John at Camelback Ranch

May made just 5 starts in 2021 before blowing out his elbow in a start in Milwaukee. Over those 5 starts, he had allowed just 7 earned runs over 23 innings pitched (2.74 ERA). The 6’6″ hurler played a key role for the Dodgers in 2020, helping secure LA’s first world championship since 1988.

The team felt his loss in a big way last season, relying on dozens of bullpen games after a rash of injuries. While he still wasn’t expected back until after the All-Star break next season, his stunted rehab could push his return back even further.

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13 Comments

  1. May was supposed to be a part of their rotation. Hopefully he will be able to make a full recovery! We do not know about Kershaw and May is an important piece of the puzzle. We can’t keep relying on the bullpen to start!

      1. May if he recovers can be a decent starter. Gonsolin has not shown he can go more than a few innings. We thought we had too many starters now we don’t have enough!

      2. The Dodgers didn’t “let them go”. Ryu wanted a stupid amount of money (he’s another Boras guy) and now he labors on a seemingly pretty good team but does a considerably poorer job if you look at his stats. Maeda just wanted to only be a starter I guess? I don’t remember, but he’s doing worse also in Minnesota on a really bad team.

  2. Well, with the salary May receives, I’m sure he can afford to hire someone to help with his rehab.

  3. n-season injuries, especially those that warranted surgery, should be allowed to rehab with team personnel essential to getting that player healthy and shouldn’t be dependent on a CBA agreement, which should be in the CBA as a point of emphasis.

  4. Call the surgeon who performed the TJ. Have the surgeon recommend a personal trainer who specializes in TJ recovery.

    Problem solved with 2 phone calls.

    You’re welcome ?

  5. Everyone knew the lockout was coming. I’m sure as December 1st approached, training personnel put together a detailed program for May so that he could continue his rehab on his own or, with a local trainer unaffiliated with MLB. That trainer though, might not be allowed to update Dodgers training personnel as the weeks drag on.

  6. The lock out is crisp both the owners and players need to get together and work on it till they reach an agreement now. It is causing problems. Grow up people and end this thing. Plus people rehabbing should be able to access who and they need to rrcober.

  7. MLBPA might run camps in Arizona and Florida to help rehabbing players. There have been hundreds of TJ surgeries and successful rehabs. Most pitchers do come back, many to their former abilities, but it can take 13-15 months or more. The strategy for such rehabs should not be a secret at this time.

    May will not just be a decent starter. He could end up being a no. 1 starter, an all-star. Watch his starts in April 2021, his stuff was amazing. High velocity plus fantastic ball movement.

  8. Yeah I’ve wondered about this subject. May’s salary is oddly hard to find, but probably not far off the admittedly generous MLB minimum. He might, or might not be able to afford similar care to what he was getting as a player, but I’m sure there’s plenty that can’t. Guys who have just had the proverbial cup of coffee in the bigs. Minor league players. The big names, and May is one, don’t get care like you and me, going into an office for PT for 20 minutes twice a week, for whatever length of time the insurance company deems appropriate. On one hand I’ve never made even close to 600K in one year, but I’ve never had medical bills like his either.

    Just one more thing that’s not right about this whole mess.

  9. Your article is contrary to another report I read that MLB players rehabbing from injuries were exempt and allowed to continue rehabbing at team facilities.

    Have you confirmed that rehabbing players are locked out?

  10. No player may access any team training facility or building of any kind during an owner lockout. There aren’t any exemptions.

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