Dodgers Pitcher Dustin May Nearly Died After Eating a Salad

Mar. 15, 2025

Dustin May.Photo:Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty

Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty

Los Angeles Dodgerspitcher Dustin May had a near-death experience from an unlikely source last summer: A salad.“It was definitely a life-altering event,” the 27-year-old athlete told theLos Angeles Timesabout the night of July 10, 2024, when he took a bite of lettuce and felt it catch in his throat. May knew something bad had happened, per the outlet. That evening, May went to the ER where he had emergency surgery to repair a tear in his esophagus.“It was definitely very serious,” May told the paper. “It’s not a very common surgery. It was definitely an emergency.”He added, “I probably wouldn’t have made it through the night if I didn’t have it.”According to theLos Angeles Times, May went to dinner that summer night in Arizona. He was almost done recovering from a couple of surgeries, and was set to rejoin his team before theend of the season. (A torn elbow ligament and resulting Tommy John surgery interrupted May’s time with the Dodgers during the 2021 and 2022 seasons. May’s issues persisted into the next season when he had to have the procedure again on his flexor, according toESPN.)The Dodgers pitcher.Chris Coduto/GettyAfter taking one bite of lettuce at dinner, there was a “mega-painful” feeling in the pitcher’s throat and stomach for 15 minutes, according to theLos Angeles Times. May had unknowingly torn his esophagus tube, but thought he was fine.At home, his wife Millie insisted he go to the ER where the perforation was discovered, according to the outlet.“While at dinner on Wednesday, Dodger right-hander Dustin May experienced sudden pain in his esophagus and stomach that continued after he returned home," the Dodgers said in a statement at the time, according toMLB.com. “He contacted the medical staff and ultimately underwent successful surgery on his esophagus. May will not return to pitch for the Dodgers this season.”Instead of goingback to the pitcher’s mound, May went through emergency surgery that left him with a long scar from his chest to his stomach. He also was facing another six long months of recovery, according to theLos Angeles Times. May explained to the outlet that the “very scary” accident changed his perspective.“It just kind of gives me a different viewpoint on a lot of things in life,” May told the paper. “Just seeing how something so non-baseball-related can just be like — it can be gone in a second.”Fans of the athlete have worried about his recovery. Later that fall, May hinted at his predicament in aSept. 25 Instagram post.“Still alive,” May captioned a video of himself pitching a ball.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.When he’s not navigating surgeries and near-death experiences, May is a formidable force on the pitch. According to ESPN, May has a fastball that often touches 100 mph and has one of the best arms in baseball.“If I’m healthy, I feel like I have a spot on this rotation,” May told theLos Angeles Times. He’s working hard to make the Dodgers’ opening-day roster. “I just have to go out and prove that.”

Los Angeles Dodgerspitcher Dustin May had a near-death experience from an unlikely source last summer: A salad.

“It was definitely a life-altering event,” the 27-year-old athlete told theLos Angeles Timesabout the night of July 10, 2024, when he took a bite of lettuce and felt it catch in his throat. May knew something bad had happened, per the outlet. That evening, May went to the ER where he had emergency surgery to repair a tear in his esophagus.

“It was definitely very serious,” May told the paper. “It’s not a very common surgery. It was definitely an emergency.”

He added, “I probably wouldn’t have made it through the night if I didn’t have it.”

According to theLos Angeles Times, May went to dinner that summer night in Arizona. He was almost done recovering from a couple of surgeries, and was set to rejoin his team before theend of the season. (A torn elbow ligament and resulting Tommy John surgery interrupted May’s time with the Dodgers during the 2021 and 2022 seasons. May’s issues persisted into the next season when he had to have the procedure again on his flexor, according toESPN.)

The Dodgers pitcher.Chris Coduto/Getty

Chris Coduto/Getty

After taking one bite of lettuce at dinner, there was a “mega-painful” feeling in the pitcher’s throat and stomach for 15 minutes, according to theLos Angeles Times. May had unknowingly torn his esophagus tube, but thought he was fine.

At home, his wife Millie insisted he go to the ER where the perforation was discovered, according to the outlet.

“While at dinner on Wednesday, Dodger right-hander Dustin May experienced sudden pain in his esophagus and stomach that continued after he returned home,” the Dodgers said in a statement at the time, according toMLB.com. “He contacted the medical staff and ultimately underwent successful surgery on his esophagus. May will not return to pitch for the Dodgers this season.”

Instead of goingback to the pitcher’s mound, May went through emergency surgery that left him with a long scar from his chest to his stomach. He also was facing another six long months of recovery, according to theLos Angeles Times. May explained to the outlet that the “very scary” accident changed his perspective.

“It just kind of gives me a different viewpoint on a lot of things in life,” May told the paper. “Just seeing how something so non-baseball-related can just be like — it can be gone in a second.”

Fans of the athlete have worried about his recovery. Later that fall, May hinted at his predicament in aSept. 25 Instagram post.

“Still alive,” May captioned a video of himself pitching a ball.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

When he’s not navigating surgeries and near-death experiences, May is a formidable force on the pitch. According to ESPN, May has a fastball that often touches 100 mph and has one of the best arms in baseball.

“If I’m healthy, I feel like I have a spot on this rotation,” May told theLos Angeles Times. He’s working hard to make the Dodgers’ opening-day roster. “I just have to go out and prove that.”

source: people.com