Dustin Jake May (born September 6, 1997) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston Red Sox, and St. Louis Cardinals. May was selected by the Dodgers in the third round of the 2016 Major League Baseball draft, and made his MLB debut in 2019. He earned a World Series ring with the Dodgers in 2020.
Contents
Early life and amateur 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. 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, forgoing his commitment.
Professional career
Los Angeles Dodgers
After signing, May made his professional debut with the Arizona League Dodgers, and spent the whole season there, posting an 0-1 record with a 3.86 ERA and 34 strikeouts in 302⁄3 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. In 2018 for the Quakes, May was selected to the post-season California League all-star team. On September 14, he started the Drillers' title clinching playoff game, in which he allowed two runs in five innings. In 23 total starts between Rancho Cucamonga and Tulsa, May was 9-5 with a 3.39 ERA.
May began 2019 with Tulsa. He was selected to the mid-season Texas League All-Star Game and the All-Star Futures Game. May was promoted to the Triple-A Oklahoma City Dodgers on June 27. He was a combined 6-5 with a 4.13 ERA as he struck out 110 batters in 1062⁄3 innings.
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. He pitched 52⁄3 innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on nine hits with three strikeouts. His first MLB strikeout was of Hunter Renfroe. On August 13, May picked up his first big league win against the Miami Marlins after pitching 52⁄3 innings, allowing one run on three hits with five strikeouts. 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. He also pitched in 31⁄3 innings across two games for the Dodgers in the National League Division Series (NLDS) against the Washington Nationals, allowing one run on three hits.
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. 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 and appeared in 12 games (10 starts) with a 3–1 record and 2.57 ERA in 56 innings. His 99.1 mph-average four-seam fastball was the fastest four-seamer of any major league pitcher for the 2020 season. He pitched three scoreless innings over two games in the 2020 NLDS against the San Diego Padres and allowed two earned runs in 42⁄3 innings over three games against the Atlanta Braves in the National League Championship Series (NLCS). May pitched in two games of the 2020 World Series, working three total innings and allowing three runs to score on five hits.
Boston Red Sox
On July 31, 2025, the Dodgers traded May to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for James Tibbs III and Zach Ehrhard. May made six appearances (five starts) for Boston, compiling a 1-4 record and 5.40 ERA with 26 strikeouts across 28+1⁄3 innings pitched.
St. Louis Cardinals
On December 17, 2025, May signed a one-year, $12.5 million contract with the St. Louis Cardinals that included a mutual option for the 2027 season. On June 15, 2026, May completed his first ever complete game, throwing a 1-hit shutout against the San Diego Padres on 101 pitches, missing a Maddux by two pitches.
Milwaukee Brewers
On August 3, 2026, the Cardinals traded May and JoJo Romero to the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for Josiah Ragsdale and Alexander Frias.
Pitching style
A tall pitcher at 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m), 180 lb (82 kg), May 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 a two-seam fastball with sinker-like movement, which averages at over 98 mph, a cutter, a curveball, and a four-seam fastball. May was ranked fourth amongst starting pitchers in lateral movement in 2020, which is rare for a pitcher who averages over 93 mph on their two-seam fastballs or sinkers.
Personal life
May is nicknamed "Gingergaard" after pitcher and former teammate Noah Syndergaard, due to profile and appearance, as well as his red hair.
May married his long-time girlfriend Amelia "Millie" Trautner on December 27, 2022.
On July 10 2024, May was saved by his wife after almost choking to death when he took a bite of lettuce and felt it catch in his throat as the couple was having dinner. 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. During his interview about the freak accident, he stated "It was definitely life and death," May said. "Like, if I hadn't gone to the hospital that night, I would not be here today. And I definitely have to thank my wife for that—for saving my life that night. Because I definitely would not have gone if I had been by myself."