The Los Angeles Dodgers reinstated Dustin May from the 60-day injured list and designated Reyes Moronta for assignment on Saturday.
May starts Saturday against the Miami Marlins for his first action in a Major League game since May 1, 2021. He pitched 1.2 innings innings that night before walking off the field due to what was discovered to be a torn ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his right elbow that required season-ending Tommy John surgery.
The Dodgers estimated at the time of the operation that May would return some point after the All-Star break in 2022. He went 1-1 with a 2.74 ERA, 3.30 FIP and 0.96 WHIP over five starts last season.
May’s long road to returning to the Dodgers rotation reached the final stages on July 16, when he began a rehab assignment with the Arizona Complex League team. He then advanced to making five starts for Triple-A Oklahoma City, with his last outing coming Aug. 14.
May allowed just three runs over 16 innings pitched (1.69 ERA) and collected 26 strikeouts in his rehab starts, and stretched out to five innings.
Moronta was among the Dodgers’ non-roster invitees to 2022 Spring Training. He began the season with Triple-A Oklahoma City before earning his first callup on April 24. Moronta pitched to a 4.18 ERA, 5.11 FIP and 1.14 WHIP over 22 games for the Dodgers.
He went 1-0 with two saves, a 2.70 ERA and 1.70 WHIP across 11 appearances with Oklahoma City.
Dodgers not pressuring May
While May returns during the same week the Dodgers learned Walker Buehler is set to undergo elbow surgery that rules him out of the remainder of the 2022 season, the team doesn’t want there to be any sense of added pressure. That sentiment is aided by having a commanding lead in the National League West.
“I think that coming off the surgery, I think we were very conservative in his return,” manager Dave Roberts said. “And so now that looking at where we’re in the standings, not having to lean on him, to make sure that No. 1, he continues to build up and stays strong and healthy.
“And No. 2, with that, expect the performance to be there. So absolutely, to not have to fight tooth and nail every single night when he pitches is certainly a luxury that we’re all very grateful for.”
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