Some goodbyes come as a complete surprise.
Some leave fans filled with regret.
And then there are those goodbyes where the players themselves struggle to find the right words.
Dustin May is experiencing just such a moment.
After nearly a decade within the Los Angeles Dodgers organization, the right-handed pitcher has officially moved to the Boston Red Sox in a trade executed just before the deadline. In return, the Dodgers received two prospects: James Tibbs III and Zach Ehrhard.
But for May, this is more than just a baseball trade.
It is a farewell to the place that transformed a high school draftee into a World Series champion.
And in his message to the fans, May made no secret of his emotions.
“One chapter closes, another begins.”
May’s message opened with a poignant sentiment: “When one chapter closes, another begins.”
It seemed to be his way of reminding himself that an MLB career doesn’t always follow the path a player envisions.
May spent the majority of his career with the Dodgers.
Selected by the team out of high school in the 2016 MLB Draft, he made his big-league debut in 2019 and quickly emerged as one of Los Angeles’ most promising young pitchers.
In 2020, May played a key role in the Dodgers’ run to the World Series title.
He went on to become a familiar face to the fans at Dodger Stadium.
But then came the injuries.
And his battle with his own body was perhaps the most painful part of that journey.
From the peak to years of struggle
May once possessed one of the most electrifying arms in the eyes of Dodgers fans.
A powerful fastball.
An unpredictable breaking ball.
An energetic pitching style. However, in 2023, an elbow injury cut his season short after just nine starts.
Subsequent surgeries sidelined May for nearly two years.
By 2024, he was unable to take the field at all.
Even more alarming, May suffered a severe health crisis—an esophageal tear requiring emergency surgery—which caused him to miss the entire 2024 season.
For a professional pitcher, that could have been the moment everything fell apart.
But May made his comeback.
In 2025, he once again stood on the mound wearing a Dodgers uniform.
Perhaps his form hadn’t fully returned to its previous level.
Perhaps the statistics didn’t quite meet expectations.
But he was back.
And for many Los Angeles fans, that alone was a source of pride.
“I am grateful for the years, the lessons…”
In his farewell message, May reflected on his time with the Dodgers, the lessons he learned, and the people who stood by him during the tough times.
It was a poignant message, as May’s journey in Los Angeles was not defined solely by victories.
He endured injuries.
He underwent surgeries.
He faced moments of uncertainty about whether he could ever return to the top of his game.
Yet, the Dodgers remained the place where he grew as a player.
It was where he won his first World Series ring.
And it was where he added a second World Series title to his collection; the Dodgers hailed him as a “two-time World Series champion” in their official tribute to the pitcher.
The Dodgers say thank you
Immediately following the trade, the Dodgers posted a tribute to May.
The team highlighted his two World Series championships and expressed gratitude for the energy May brought to the mound every time he competed. It was a brief farewell.
But behind those few words lay nearly a decade of memories.
From a young prospect.
To the MLB.
From those promising early days.
To a World Series ring.
Then, injuries that threatened to end his career.
May endured it all while wearing Dodger Blue.
Now, Boston is giving May another chance.
The story enters a new chapter.
The Boston Red Sox see more than just a pitcher with a 4.85 ERA from the 2025 season.
They see an arm once highly touted and a player who has proven his ability to overcome immense adversity.
May is expected to bolster Boston’s rotation alongside names like Garrett Crochet, Lucas Giolito, and Brayan Bello.
Notably, May did not request a trade.
However, he had wanted to continue as a starter, whereas the Dodgers were reportedly considering moving him to the bullpen. Boston’s acquisition of him could therefore offer a crucial opportunity: the chance to pursue the starting role he desires.
And that might be exactly what May needs.
A fresh start.
A new team.
A chance to prove that his years of hardship do not define his career.
Goodbye, Dodger Blue.
Dustin May leaves Los Angeles with a journey that was far from perfect.
But perhaps that is precisely what makes his farewell so special.
He isn’t leaving after a flawless career.
He leaves after fighting his way back.
He leaves with two World Series rings.
He leaves after dedicating nearly his entire career to a single uniform.
And now, Boston lies ahead for May.
A new chapter is unfolding.
As for the “Dodger Blue” chapter?
It has come to a close.
But it certainly won’t be forgotten.
For as Dustin May himself noted, the end of a chapter does not mean the end of the story.
For him, there are still many pages left to write in his MLB story.
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