Dustin May

Dustin Jake May (born September 6, 1997) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He was selected by the Dodgers in the third round of the 2016 Major League Baseball Draft, and made his MLB debut in 2019.

Dustin May
May pitching in the 2019 All-Star Futures Game
Los Angeles Dodgers – No. 85
Pitcher
Born: (1997-09-06) September 6, 1997
Justin, Texas
Bats: Right Throws: Right
MLB debut
August 2, 2019, for the Los Angeles Dodgers
MLB statistics
(through 2020 season)
Win–loss record5–4
Earned run average2.98
Strikeouts76
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Career

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.[1] 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,[2] 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 and 34 strikeouts 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 (24 starts) between the two clubs.[3] 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.[4] In 2018 for the Quakes he was selected to the post-season California League all-star team.[5] On September 14, he started the Drillers title clinching playoff game where he allowed two runs in five innings.[6] In 23 total starts between Rancho Cucamonga and Tulsa, he was 9-5 with a 3.39 ERA.[7]

May began 2019 with Tulsa.[8] He was selected to the mid-season Texas League All-Star Game[9] and the All-Star Futures Game.[10] He was promoted to the AAA Oklahoma City Dodgers on June 27.[11] He was a combined 6-5 with a 4.13 ERA as he struck out 110 batters in 106.2 innings.[12]

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.[13] He pitched 5​2⁄3 innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on nine hits with three strikeouts.[14] On August 13, May picked up his first big league win against the Miami Marlins after pitching 5​2⁄3 innings, allowing one run on three hits with five strikeouts.[15] 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.[16] He also pitched in 3​1⁄3 innings across two games for the Dodgers in the National League Division Series (NLDS) against the Washington Nationals, allowing one run on three hits.[16]

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.[17] 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[18] and appeared in 12 games (10 starts) with a 3–1 record and 2.57 ERA in 56 innings.[16] His 99.1 mph-average four-seam fastball was the fastest four-seamer of any major league pitcher for the 2020 season.[19] He pitched three scoreless innings over two games in the 2020 NLDS against the San Diego Padres and allowed two earned runs in 4​2⁄3 innings over three games against the Atlanta Braves in the National League Championship Series (NLCS).[16] May pitched in two games of the 2020 World Series, working three total innings and allowing three runs to score on five hits.[16]

Pitching style

A tall pitcher at 6'6", 180 lb, he pitches with a three-quarter stance with high leg lifts both before release, and at follow-through (with nobody on base). His main pitches are two-seam fastball with sinker-like movement, which averages at over 98 mph, cutter, curveball and four-seam fastball. He was ranked 4th amongst starting pitchers in lateral movement in 2020, which is rare for a pitcher that averages over 93 mph on their two-seam fastballs or sinkers.[20]

Personal life

May is nicknamed "Gingergaard" after current New York Mets pitcher Noah Syndergaard, due to profile and appearance, as well as his red hair.[21][22][23][24]

References
  1. "Dodgers' Dustin May: Drafted by Dodgers with 101st overall pick". CBSSports.com. Retrieved February 24, 2018.
  2. "Dodgers agree to terms with third-round pick". MLB.com. Retrieved February 24, 2018.
  3. "Dustin May Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Retrieved February 24, 2018.
  4. "Dustin May makes first start for Tulsa Drillers". True Blue LA. August 3, 2018. Retrieved August 4, 2018.
  5. Bumbaca, Chris (August 21, 2018). "Bannon leads California League All-Stars". milb.com. Retrieved August 22, 2018.
  6. "May helps Drillers win first Texas League in 20 years". milb.com. September 14, 2018. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
  7. "Dustin May Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
  8. https://dodgerblue.com/gavin-lux-dustin-may-keibert-ruiz-headline-double-a-tulsa-2019-opening-day-roster/2019/04/04/
  9. Tulsa Drillers (June 13, 2019). "Top Prospects Named to Rosters for ONEOK Field All-Star Game". milb.com. Retrieved June 15, 2019.
  10. Callis, Jim (June 28, 2019). "Here are the 2019 Futures Game rosters". mlb.com. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
  11. Dykstra, Sam (June 27, 2019). "Dodgers promote Lux, May to OKC". milb.com. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
  13. Gurnick, Ken (August 1, 2019). "May's Friday debut to serve as audition". MLB.com. Retrieved August 2, 2019.
  14. Gurnick, Ken (August 2, 2019). "Solid debut showcases May's potential". mlb.com. Retrieved August 3, 2019.
  15. De Nicola, Christina (August 13, 2019). "Dodgers belt 6 homers in long ball spectacle". mlb.com. Retrieved August 13, 2019.
  16. "Dustin May Stats". Baseball Reference.
  17. Castillo, Jorge (July 23, 2020). "Back injury forces Clayton Kershaw to miss opening day start; Dustin May gets the nod". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  18. Gurnick, Ken (August 5, 2020). "May breaks Internet, baffles Padres". mlb.com. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
  20. "BrooksBaseball.net Player Card: Dustin May". www.brooksbaseball.net. Retrieved 2020-11-09.
  21. Gonzalez, Alden (August 3, 2019). "After keeping Dustin May at the deadline, Dodgers debut 'Gingergaard'". ESPN.
  22. https://foxsportsradio.iheart.com/content/2019-08-06-noah-syndergaard-calls-dustin-mays-gingergaard-nickname-stupid/
  23. https://nypost.com/2019/07/31/dodgers-call-up-future-ace-gingergaard/
  24. https://larrybrownsports.com/baseball/dodgers-rookie-dustin-may-is-down-with-the-gingergaard-nickname/507355
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