“Meant the World”: Dustin May’s Emotional Return Fuels Dodgers’ Historic Start

By Mary John

LOS ANGELES — As the Dodger Stadium crowd roared in unison, a red-headed flame-thrower walked off the mound with a look of gratitude and grit. For Dustin May, this was more than just a baseball game. It was a moment he wasn’t sure he’d ever experience again. And for the Los Angeles Dodgers, it was a performance that underscored their dominance in a perfect start to the 2025 season.

“It literally meant the world to me just to be back out on the mound,” May said postgame, still soaking in the emotions. “Because about eight months ago, I didn’t know if I would be.”

May’s journey back to a Major League mound was nothing short of grueling. After multiple setbacks following Tommy John surgery and a complex recovery, the right-hander with a 100 mph sinker had to claw his way through pain, uncertainty, and doubt. But on this sun-drenched afternoon in Chavez Ravine, he reclaimed the spotlight and reminded the baseball world why the Dodgers once saw him as one of the cornerstones of their future.

And fittingly, May’s brilliance helped the Dodgers make history.

With their 7-0 shutout win over the San Francisco Giants, the Dodgers improved to 7-0 — their best start in franchise history. A club already steeped in tradition and accomplishment has never started a season with this much authority. With MVPs, Cy Young winners, and top prospects dotting their roster, the Dodgers appear to be playing a different game from the rest of the league.

But on this day, it was all about May.

From Uncertainty to Unhittable

Dustin May last pitched in a Major League game on May 17, 2023. That appearance ended with discomfort, and soon after, a devastating diagnosis: a torn UCL in his surgically-repaired right elbow, followed by additional damage during his rehab. The injury led to another extended absence, with some around the league wondering whether May’s career might be permanently altered.

“It was the hardest thing I’ve ever gone through,” May admitted. “Physically, obviously. But mentally, it was a battle every day. You start to think, ‘What if I can’t do this again? What if that was it?’”

He credited the Dodgers’ medical and coaching staff, his family, and his teammates for keeping him grounded during the darkest days of his recovery.

“There were mornings where I couldn’t grip a baseball,” he said. “There were weeks where it felt like no progress was happening. But the people around me never let me quit.”

Fast-forward to April 6, 2025. May stood tall on the mound, throwing gas, painting corners, and generating swings and misses with that signature explosive movement. Over five innings of work, he allowed just two hits, struck out seven, and walked none — a masterpiece of efficiency and command.

“Vintage Dustin,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “You never want to put expectations on a guy in his first start back, especially after what he’s been through, but what he gave us today was electric.”

Roberts said the team had been watching May closely over the past few weeks in simulated games and bullpen sessions. “We knew he was close,” Roberts added. “Today confirmed it.”

A Team on a Mission

While May’s return was the emotional centerpiece, it was also a continuation of a broader narrative: the Dodgers are a juggernaut once again.

Offensively, they pounced early and often. Mookie Betts led off with a triple and later scored on a Freddie Freeman sacrifice fly. Shohei Ohtani followed with a towering home run in the third inning, his third of the season, sending the stadium into a frenzy. Later, Will Smith added a two-run double, and top prospect Josue De La Cruz — now an everyday starter — singled in another run to stretch the lead.

“We’re just having fun out there,” Freeman said. “Everyone’s doing their job. We’re feeding off each other.”

That synergy has been evident through the first seven games. The Dodgers have outscored opponents 49-13, with their starting pitching boasting a combined ERA under 2.00 and the bullpen yet to surrender a lead. The return of May only strengthens a rotation that already features Walker Buehler, Bobby Miller, and Tyler Glasnow.

“This team has the potential to be really special,” Ohtani said through his interpreter. “We’re all healthy. We’re all motivated. And we know what the goal is.”

The Bigger Picture: May’s Comeback Inspires More Than Wins

As reporters filed into the postgame media room, the tone was less about the 7-0 record and more about the man who made it happen. Dustin May, now 27, didn’t shy away from the emotional weight of the day.

“I’m just thankful,” he said. “To the trainers who stayed late, to my wife who saw me cry, to my teammates who kept believing. This day is for all of them too.”

Teammates were equally moved.

“It was honestly kind of emotional watching him walk off,” said Buehler, who had Tommy John surgery himself and mentored May during rehab. “Nobody sees the work he put in behind the scenes. He earned every bit of that ovation.”

That ovation? Deafening.

As May exited after his fifth inning of work, the 51,000 fans in attendance stood, clapped, and chanted his name. For several seconds, it felt like time stood still.

“I’m never forgetting that moment,” May said.

Roberts: “It’s a Testament to Our Culture”

Manager Dave Roberts spoke at length about what May’s return means beyond baseball.

“You see a guy like Dustin fight and claw to get back, and it reminds you what this game is really about,” Roberts said. “Yeah, we’re professionals. We’re paid to win. But it’s also about the human side — about perseverance, character, resilience. Dustin showed all of that.”

Roberts said he intentionally left May in a little longer than planned because he sensed the moment.

“He earned it,” Roberts said. “He earned that crowd. He earned that feeling.”

What’s Next?

The Dodgers are off to face the Arizona Diamondbacks next, looking to extend their perfect start. May’s next turn in the rotation is scheduled for five days from now — and all eyes will be on how his arm responds.

Roberts said the team will be cautious. “This is still a guy coming back from two major setbacks. We’re going to listen to his body and be smart.”

But May doesn’t seem worried.

“I feel great,” he said. “Obviously we’ll monitor things, but I’m ready to compete. I’ve waited a long time for this.”

A Statement Win, a Symbolic Start

The Dodgers have made no secret about their intentions for 2025. After falling short in the 2024 NLCS, the front office aggressively retooled — signing Ohtani, extending Betts, acquiring Glasnow, and strengthening the bench with veterans like Gio Urshela and Austin Meadows. The goal: a return to October dominance.

So far, the mission is on track.

But amidst all the stars and stats, it’s Dustin May’s story that has galvanized the clubhouse.

“This is a team that plays for each other,” said Betts. “Seeing Dustin go out there and do what he did — it inspires everyone.”

A Comeback to Remember

Baseball has a way of rewarding those who don’t quit. And on April 6, 2025, the game gave something back to Dustin May.

He didn’t just pitch. He didn’t just win. He delivered a performance soaked in symbolism — one that transcended numbers and made history feel personal.

As the sun dipped behind the San Gabriel Mountains and the crowd filed out into the warm Los Angeles evening, one thing was clear:

Dustin May is back. And the Dodgers might be better than ever.