May close to ‘pre-surgery’ self; Outman in OF mix
GOODYEAR, Ariz. — You’d by no means know that it was only a Cactus League matchup from watching Dustin May pitch.
After setting down Reds second baseman Alejo Lopez to finish the second inning of the Dodgers’ 8-1 win on Sunday, the fiery right-hander set free a scream as he walked off the mound — a launch of his frustration from strolling the earlier batter.
May settled right into a groove from that time on, retiring the following six batters to complete off one other stellar spring outing. He struck out seven batters whereas giving up two hits and a stroll in 4 scoreless innings.
The 25-year-old, who has solely given up one run in 8 2/3 Cactus League innings, feels as if he is constructing momentum in the precise course.
“I felt really good today, I was locating everything when I needed to locate it,” May stated. “I felt like I was executing pretty well early, but repeating-wise, I felt like I had settled in a little more towards the end. I would say right now is probably the closest that I’ve been to ‘pre-surgery,’ feel-wise. So, I’m in a pretty good spot right now.”
After present process Tommy John surgical procedure on May 12, 2021, May returned to Major League motion late in ‘22, beginning six video games in August and September earlier than a strained again muscle ended his season.
Being in a position to expertise a traditional offseason, targeted extra on restoration than lively rehabbing, May has observed a transparent influence on his bodily and psychological state heading into 2023.
“There’s a lot of throws that have been made in the rehab process,” stated May, noting the distinction in how he feels in comparison with final yr. “I wouldn’t say that I was tired or anything. But I was almost going through a full season with the throws. So just being able to have the rest of the offseason and coming in healthy is a good thing.”
The lengthy highway again from a major damage took a toll on May, which he’s actually begun to understand now that he’s on the opposite facet.
“Being able to take a few weeks off after last season was huge,” he stated. “Not being able to take any time off during the rehab — it was a grind. It was 15 months every single day of doing stuff.”
Regarding the momentary outbursts, supervisor Dave Roberts believes that May’s potential to make the most of his depth and feelings has grown tremendously.
“There’s a natural adrenaline to compete that’s in there with Dustin,” Roberts stated. “He expects a lot from himself. He’s done a good job of damage control, managing — his growth has been fantastic.”
Outman continues to shine
Dodgers No. 9 prospect James Outman is creating “high-class problems” within the minds of Roberts and the remainder of the teaching workers. The left-handed-hitting outfielder continued his torrid begin to the spring, blasting an opposite-field homer deep onto the garden towards the Cubs on Saturday.
Then, towards the Reds on Sunday, Outman crushed a fly ball to deep heart discipline which short-hopped the wall to drive in two and produce his RBI complete on the spring to eight. The clutch hit got here straight after he popped up with the bases loaded in his earlier at-bat. Following Sunday’s win, Outman’s slash line is .391/.464/.783.
It’s clear that the questions surrounding Outman are much less targeted on his expertise and talent on the sphere, and extra so about the place he may match within the ever-shifting roster puzzle.
“James is unique, I put the mentality in the Will Smith bucket as far as being unflappable,” stated Roberts. “He knew he had a job to do that previous at-bat, didn’t get the job done, but it doesn’t affect the defense or the next at-bat. For him to go out there and catch a barrel, to have a good at-bat the next one — it’s no surprise. That’s sort of how he’s wired.”
In an outfield image crowded by veterans and All-Stars — one which Roberts says is “still pretty muddy” at this level — the previous seventh-round Draft choose has solely difficult issues by impressing throughout his at-bats.
“Is he big league ready? I would say he is,” stated Roberts. “But how we shake out, that’s a different question. But he’s doing everything [he can]. James is going to be more in the mix. You can always debate what that means.”
