Los Angeles Dodgers’ Dustin May On His Return To The Mound After Being Out For 2 Years: ‘It Was Very Emotional’

By: bitcoin ethereum news|2025/05/14 05:30:07

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Dustin May details his road back to the mound after multiple surgeries ... More sidelined him for two years. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) Dustin May is slowly starting to round back into the form that made him one of the MLB’s best pitchers prior to being sidelined for nearly two years. The 6-foot-6 May is known for his speedy two-seam fastball and his collection of off-speed stuff which sees the ball break as many as 18 inches on a lot of his pitches. He was fourth in lateral movement among all pitchers in 2020, which is impressive considering the speed of his pitches can reach the late 90’s. However, he’s adjusting into rounding back into form after returning this season following a two-year layoff after elbow surgery and a near-death experience that resulted in surgery following an esophageal tear. The Los Angeles Dodgers veteran details how he feels returning to the mound after having to fight his way back onto the field. “It was pretty remarkable because there was a time and place where I didn’t really know if I would be able to come back and not necessarily just play baseball, but just live a normal life,” says May in a one-on-one interview. “Life happened to me and stuff kind of snowballed on top of it, and I didn’t really realize what what had happened,” May continues to say. “When the surgery did happen, it was a life and death situation. Just being able to get that taken care of, and then just get out of the hospital alive and well, and being able to just do normal daily activities was all huge achievements in itself for me.” May is referencing a “freak accident” after eating salad where a piece of lettuce tore up his esophagus which ended up required surgery. That not only wiped away the remainder of his 2023 season, but also his entire 2024 campaign. “Baseball was put on the back burner for a little bit,” says May. “But then once I got healthy and I was able to move around and got back in the swing of strength and body weight and everything, being able to go throw baseball and to go compete again this year, it was definitely very uplifting. “It was very emotional for me and my wife, just because everything that we had been through in the last year and a half, because I was so close to being back in the games after my second elbow surgery, so then that happened,” May continues to say. “It was just a super negative time in both of our lives, just because of how scary it was.” After making his last start in May of 2023 prior to his setbacks, May made a successful return on April 1 this season, pitching five quality innings in a 3-1 win over the Atlanta Braves. The 27-year-old allowed just one hit and struck out six batters. As mentioned earlier, May is still trying to find the form that once made him the Dodgers’ youngest opening day starting pitcher, having done so during the 2020 season when he helped lead Los Angeles to a World Series. In seven starts so far this season, May holds a 1-3 record with 33 strikeouts and a 4.08 ERA. “I still feel like there’s times where I’m speeding up or I’m not really getting into the right spots mechanics wise to get down the mound,” says May of where he needs to improve. “There’s some times where I’m rushing or not feeling the right way.” May has taken on more of an even-keeled approach compared to earlier in his career where he was more emotional. Now it’s less highs and lows and more of just a neutral approach. “Being able to resettle in and refocus has been something that I worked on throughout my esophagus surgery,” May details. “There were a lot of times where I was like, ‘We’re going to be okay, but you gotta relax. It’s going to be okay. Just relax, get through this situation, and then we’re going to be able to move to the next.’” Dustin May, Christian Yelich Team Up For DirecTV Commercial As May continues to find the form that made him one of the game’s best young pitchers, he’s starring in a DirecTV commercial alongside Milwaukee Brewers star Christian Yelich and Chicago Cubs star Dansby Swanson called “Take Me Out To The Bald Game.” All you need to know is that the commercial sees all three MLB stars bald while mimicking popular boy bands from yesteryear all while promoting DirecTV’s satellite-free MLB package. Yelich details how the offer came up in spring training through his agent and the idea of being “bald” sold him immediately. The former NL MVP’s has a little bit of experience, having done some commercials for American Family Insurance and having made an appearance on the show, “Magnum P.I.” However, he self-admittedly is far from being a natural on camera, although he definitely enjoys and is open to more commercials in the future. “I thought it’d be pretty fun, I didn’t know everything that would go into the cap,” says Yelich in a one-on-one interview. “Two hours to get bald and do that whole deal with the hair and makeup and all that. But it was a lot of fun. I like the idea that you get to do it with a couple other guys in the league. Sometimes they do that stuff just you by yourself, so to get to hang out with them was pretty fun.” By contrast, this was May’s first commercial and he’s definitely open to doing more of these types of commercials moving forward. “They talked about doing something with nothing on your roof for their no satellites on your roof, I thought that was pretty cool idea with the hair as well,” says May. “I like my hair and I have some pretty good locks, I’ve been told. When they decided to do the bald cap, I was like, that’ll be an interesting look for me. My wife and I both thought that would be a good twist on things. They got the ball rolling and I thought it ended up turning out very good.” Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/djsiddiqi/2025/05/13/los-angeles-dodgers-dustin-may-on-his-return-to-the-mound-after-being-out-for-2-years-it-was-very-emotional/

What is XRP: XRP is a digital asset built for fast, low-cost international payments. It runs on the XRP Ledger and is used by Ripple for its On-Demand Liquidity (ODL) service. Unlike Bitcoin, XRP settles transactions in 3-5 seconds with near-zero fees.Why is XRP Dropping: XRP is not actively dropping, but it is struggling to rise. On the monthly chart, XRP has seen six consecutive months of decline. Currently, the price faces an additional supply wall at $1.45. About 1.24 billion XRP were bought in that range, and those holders sell when the price approaches, creating selling pressure that prevents a recovery.Will XRP Go Up: Potentially yes. XRP is trading near $1.43 and showing its best weekly performance since September 2025. If the price breaks above the $1.45 resistance, analysts expect a move toward $1.90, supported by strong institutional demand.Is XRP a Good Investment: The answer is not simple. Short-term traders may see opportunity in the coming volatility spike. Long-term investors face a bigger question that depends on one key regulatory event. However, the data reveals a surprising signal that most retail buyers are missing right now. To understand whether XRP is a smart buy or a trap at $1.43, you will need to read the full analysis below.What is XRP? A Digital Asset for Global Settlement

Before analyzing the charts, it is crucial to understand the asset in question. What is XRP? Unlike Bitcoin, which was designed as a decentralized digital gold, XRP operates on the XRP Ledger (XRPL). It was created to facilitate fast, low-cost international payments. Traditional bank transfers take days and incur high fees. XRP transactions settle in 3-5 seconds, costing fractions of a penny.

Ripple, the company associated with XRP, uses this asset for its "On-Demand Liquidity" (ODL) service. Banks and financial institutions use ODL to source liquidity during cross-border transactions without pre-funding accounts. This utility is the primary driver for institutional interest. Recently, the network hit a milestone of over 8 million active wallets, signaling growing usage despite recent price stagnation . Furthermore, Ripple is proactively preparing for the future, releasing a four-stage roadmap to make the XRPL "quantum-resistant," aiming to secure the ledger against future quantum computing threats by 2028 .

XRP Price Analysis: The Battle for $1.45

The XRP price trend over the last month tells a story of exhaustion followed by cautious recovery. On the monthly chart, XRP experienced six consecutive months of decline. However, April shows signs of a bottoming process. Weekly charts reinforce this view: after four weeks of lower closes, the last two weeks have seen small rebounds.

According to data from April 22, 2026, XRP is trading at approximately $1.44. Over the last seven days, XRP has outperformed both Bitcoin and Ethereum, rising 6.7% while the broader market rose only 3.2%. Spot trading volume surged 23% to $3.79 billion, and derivative markets saw $40 billion in futures volume on a single day.

Despite this, the price remains 60% below its July 2025 high of $3.65. The current technical picture shows a "low volatility grind" higher. The 20-day EMA is at $1.3924, and the 50-day EMA is at $1.4119, both acting as support . However, the immediate hurdle is the $1.45 resistance level. This price point has rejected every rally attempt in 2026.

Why is XRP Dropping? And Will XRP Go Up?

The primary reason for the recent "drop" (or lack of upward momentum) is not active selling, but rather the "supply wall." Data indicates that roughly 1.24 billion XRP tokens were purchased by investors in the $1.45 to $1.47 range. These investors have been waiting months to "break even." Every time the price approaches $1.45, these holders sell to exit their positions, creating a massive wall that retail buying cannot easily absorb.

However, the underlying momentum is shifting. Analysts suggest a xrp volatility spike imminent because the absorption capacity of buyers is increasing. Historically, when exchange reserves are high but the price refuses to drop significantly, it signals that buyers are absorbing the supply. The price has held above $1.39 despite the overhang, which is a sign of relative strength.

So, will XRP go up? Yes, potentially. But it needs a catalyst, if the price closes a daily candle above $1.45. If that happens, the next targets are $1.60 to $1.65, and eventually $1.90 .

XRP Exchange Netflow and XRP ETF Netflow: A Tale of Two Markets

The current market dynamic is best understood by looking at two opposing data streams: XRP Exchange netflow and XRP ETF flows.

Exchange Dynamics (Retail / Whales):

Data shows a complex pattern of "large inflows and increasing reserves." Recently, a Ripple-associated wallet moved 75 million XRP (approx. $108 million) to Coinbase. This initially looks like a dump, but context matters. These transfers are likely to provide liquidity for Ripple’s ODL business, not necessarily spot market selling. However, the result is that exchange reserves have climbed to 2.76 billion XRP .

The Good News: While reserves are high, the rate of increase is slowing. Specifically, "whale" transfers to exchanges have dropped 98% from their April 11 peak. The Binance reserve has slightly decreased from 27.7 to 27.6 billion. The aggressive selling from large holders appears to have stopped.

Institutional Dynamics (ETF):

While whales were sending coins to exchanges, institutions were buying XRP ETF products. XRP ETF net flow is strongly positive.

US-listed XRP ETFs recorded four consecutive days of inflows totaling $38.86 million recently .The weekly inflow for mid-April hit $119.6 million, a multi-month high .Cumulative net inflows stand at $12.8 billion, with Assets Under Management (AUM) at roughly $10.8 billion.Analyzing the Divergence: Why Both Flows Are Positive

It seems contradictory that exchange reserves are high (suggesting selling) while ETFs are buying (suggesting buying). However, this phenomenon reveals the current market structure.

Different Investor Profiles: The exchange inflows likely come from short-term traders, market makers, or Ripple itself providing ODL liquidity. These are "hot" coins ready to be sold. The ETF inflows represent "sticky" capital. Institutions buying ETFs are typically long-term holders (LTHs) or asset managers who do not day-trade. They are removing liquidity from the spot market by buying through custodians.The "De-risking" Trade: Sophisticated funds might be engaging in basis trading. They buy the ETF (taking a long position) while simultaneously shorting XRP futures or selling spot inventory to capture the funding rate. This keeps the price stable while volume increases.Absorption: The most likely scenario is that the market is simply absorbing the excess supply. The fact that the price is stable ($1.43) and not collapsing to $1.20 despite 2.76 billion coins sitting on exchanges is a massive win for the bulls. The ETF inflows are acting as a sponge, soaking up the selling pressure from the ODL wallets.The Regulatory Catalyst: The SEC and the CLARITY Act

Fundamentally, the recent price action cannot be separated from regulation. For years, the primary answer was the SEC lawsuit. That narrative is dying.

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse recently praised SEC Chair Paul Atkins as "a breath of fresh air and sanity" . This regulatory thaw is critical. The SEC is reportedly considering dropping the long-standing lawsuit, and five XRP ETF applications are awaiting review.

The major catalyst on the horizon is the CLARITY Act. A Senate markup is expected before the end of April. Standard Chartered analysts project that if the bill advances, it could unlock $4 to $8 billion in institutional flows . Polymarket gives the bill a 60-66% chance of passing in 2026. If the CLARITY Act classifies XRP as a non-security (commodity), the institutional floodgates will open, likely overwhelming the $1.45 supply wall instantly.

Is XRP a Good Investment in 2026?

Given all this data, is XRP a good investment? The answer depends entirely on your risk tolerance and time horizon.

The Bull Case (Why it is a good investment): The risk/reward ratio is asymmetrical to the upside. The price is near multi-year lows relative to its utility. Whale selling has stopped, ETF demand is rising, and the network is expanding (8 million wallets, quantum resistance roadmap). If the CLARITY Act passes, XRP could realistically trade between $1.60 and $1.80 in the short term, with a potential run to $3.00+ if the lawsuit is officially dropped.The Risk Case (Why it is NOT a good investment): There is a clear resistance wall at $1.45. If the CLARITY Act fails or is delayed past May (due to midterm election dynamics), the "buy the rumor, sell the news" dynamic could reverse. If the price fails to break $1.45 and loses support at $1.33, a drop back to $1.15 is technically possible .

Verdict: XRP is a speculative buy for traders looking for a volatility spike. It is a hold for current investors. For new investors, it is only a good investment if you believe in regulatory clarity within the next 30 days. Technically, waiting for a confirmed break above $1.55 (to avoid the fakeout) is safer than buying at $1.43.

FAQ

Q: Will XRP go up if the CLARITY Act passes?

A: Yes, historically. Analysts predict that if the CLARITY Act passes, signaling that XRP is a commodity, it would remove the regulatory overhang. This could trigger a surge in institutional buying, pushing the price from the current $1.43 range to test the $1.80 - $2.00 resistance levels quickly.

Q: Why is XRP dropping when Bitcoin is going up?

A: XRP has specific supply dynamics. Unlike Bitcoin, which has a fixed supply issuance, XRP faces periodic sell-pressure from Ripple's treasury wallets used to fund ODL (liquidity) services. Additionally, the $1.45 "break-even" wall causes XRP to drop relative to BTC when short-term traders exit.

Q: Is a volatility spike imminent for XRP?

A: Yes. The Bollinger Bands on the daily chart are squeezing. The price is stuck between support at $1.33 and resistance at $1.45. Historically, when XRP volume surges 23% in a week (as it did on April 21), it precedes a violent move. The direction depends on whether the $1.45 resistance breaks.

Q: What is the XRP ETF netflow status?

A: As of late April 2026, XRP ETFs are seeing positive netflows. The US ETFs recorded a single week inflow of $119.6 million in mid-April. Cumulative inflows are strong at $12.8 billion, indicating that institutions are accumulating during this dip, which is a long-term bullish signal for price stabilization.

Q: Is XRP a good investment for beginners?

A: XRP is less volatile than "meme coins" but more volatile than Bitcoin. For beginners, it is a moderate-risk investment. Its value is tied to real utility (bank payments). However, beginners should wait to see if the price can close a weekly candle above $1.55 before entering, to avoid buying into the current resistance wall.

Disclaimer: None of the information in this article constitutes, or is intended to constitute, investment advice. Trading cryptocurrencies carries a high level of risk and may not be suitable for all investors. Always do your own research.

About WEEX

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TL; DR