The Los Angeles Dodgers endured a scare Sunday afternoon when prized pitching prospect Dustin May was knocked off his feet by a line drive that struck him in the head. The 92 mph screamer ricocheted off May’s head and into left field for a two-run single that tied the game.
Jake Lamb, responsible for hitting the liner, immediately crouched over upon reaching first base. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts leaped over the dugout railing as he and a trainer rushed onto the field to check on May, who was on the ground clutching at his head.
The Dodgers infield gathered around May while he was checked on. He eventually sat up and was helped to his feet before walking off the field under his owner power.
May passed concussion protocol and generally appeared to be in good spirits after the Dodgers’ comeback win. He even joked about having some frustration and embarrassment over the play, as seen on SportsNet LA:
“I’m really just kind of upset that I didn’t catch it, because it hit my glove. But I mean, we’ve got to look at the positives, that I’m OK. … When it hit me at first, it really just frightened me. And then when I was on the ground, it was like, ‘Dang, I wish that wouldn’t have happened.’ Then I didn’t want to rush getting up because I’ve seen other people do that and it is a worse outcome.”
While being the victim of a line-drive comebacker can be traumatizing, May is taking the mindset of shaking it off:
“I’ve been hit before, just not in the head. You can’t let it frighten you. You’ve got to go out and do your job, no matter the outcome, you’ve got to go out there and compete.”
May was removed from the game after facing just five batters in the fourth inning. He initially was lined up to start at Chase Field, but instead piggybacked Ross Stripling, who went three scoreless innings in his return from the 10-day injured list.
What’s next for May is unclear. The Dodgers continue to evaluate him for a postseason role, but he will need to be monitored over the coming days to ensure concussion-like symptoms don’t become an issue.
