Dustin May

BIOGRAPHY

Dustin Jake May was born September 6, 1997, in Justin, Texas. He is a pitcher in the MLB.

May graduated from Northwest High School in Justin, Texas. He was selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the third round of the 2016 Major League Baseball Draft. He was committed to play college baseball for the Texas Tech Red Raiders, but chose to sign with the Dodgers for a $1 million signing bonus, forgoing his commitment.

After signing, May made his professional debut with the AZL Dodgers, and spent the whole season there, posting an 0-1 record with a 3.86 ERA in 30.1 innings pitched. In 2017, he played for both the Great Lakes Loons and the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, compiling a combined 9-6 record, 3.63 ERA, and a 1.15 WHIP in 25 games between the two clubs. On August 3, he made his first start for the Tulsa Drillers of Double A going 3 2/3 innings giving up five earned runs. In 2018 for the Quakes he was selected to the post-season California League all-star team. On September 14, he started the Drillers title clinching playoff game where he allowed two runs in five innings. In 23 total starts between Rancho Cucamonga and Tulsa, he was 9-5 with a 3.39 ERA.

May was called up to the majors on August 2, 2019, and made his major league debut for the Dodgers as the starting pitcher against the San Diego Padres. He pitched 52⁄3 innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on nine hits with three strikeouts. On August 13, May picked up his first big league win against the Miami Marlins after pitching 52⁄3 innings, allowing one run on three hits with five strikeouts. He finished the season appearing in 14 games for the Dodgers (four starts), with a 2–3 record, a 3.63 ERA, and 32 strikeouts with only five walks. He also pitched in 31⁄3 innings across two games for the Dodgers in the National League Division Series (NLDS) against the Washington Nationals, allowing one run on three hits.

May was selected to start for the Dodgers on Opening Day in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season after Clayton Kershaw injured his back before the game. May became the youngest opening day starter for the Dodgers since Fernando Valenzuela in 1981. He picked up his first win of the season on August 4, when he struck out eight in six innings against the San Diego Padres and appeared in 12 games (10 starts) with a 3–1 record and 2.57 ERA in 56 innings. His 99.1 mph-average four-seam fastball was the fastest four-seamer of any major league pitcher for the 2020 season. He pitched three scoreless innings over two games in the 2020 NLDS against the San Diego Padres and allowed two earned runs in 42⁄3 innings over three games against the Atlanta Braves in the National League Championship Series (NLCS). May pitched in two games of the 2020 World Series, working three total innings and allowing three runs to score on five hits. He also finished fifth in Rookie of the Year voting.

May made five starts in 2021, with a 1–1 record and 2.74 ERA.

May signed a $1.675 million contract with the Dodgers in his first year of salary arbitration.