Dodgers’ Dustin May suffers torn esophagus, won’t pitch in 2024

Dustin May underwent surgery to repair a torn esophagus earlier this week and will not pitch in 2024.

According to a statement from the Dodgers, May was at dinner Wednesday when he felt “sudden pain in his esophagus and stomach.” It continued after he returned home so he contact the team’s medical staff and immediately underwent surgery.

The surgery was first reported by ESPN’s Jeff Passan who added May will not be able to engage in any physical activity for two months.

The 26-year-old right-hander had been working out at the Dodgers’ training facility and had progressed far enough in his throwing program to throw bullpen sessions on a regular basis. There was hope that May (who has not pitched in the major leagues since May 2023) could return at some point in the second half of the season.

This non-baseball injury is just the latest setback for the star-crossed pitcher who has thrown a total of 101 innings since the start of 2021.

Five starts into the 2021 season, May suffered a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow and underwent Tommy John surgery. He returned late in the 2022 season, made six starts then was shut down with a lower back injury.

He started last season in the Dodgers’ rotation and had a 4-1 record with a 2.63 ERA after nine starts. But he began experiencing elbow pain again. A platelet-rich plasma injection did not resolve the matter and he underwent surgery again in July. He had both a flexor tendon repair procedure and a Tommy John revision procedure on his UCL.