Ex-MLB Star, Once Top Phillies Prospect, Details Fan Backlash That Drove Him From Social Media

In today’s world, social media leaves no personality unexposed. And athletes often find themselves in the face of unexpected criticism. Enter Trevor May, the former Phillies top prospect, who recently shared a rather bizarre personal experience. His story is not just unusual, but a stark reminder of how vulnerable modern athletes can be in the digital age.

Well, until 2012, Trevor May was steadily climbing the ranks as one of the Phillies’ top pitching prospects. But in a surprising twist, the Phillies traded him to the Twins in 2012. Now that’s a move that would quietly kickstart a new chapter in May’s professional journey.

With the Twins, May began to shape a respectable MLB career. Things were going well until they suddenly took a pause. The turning point came in 2019, during a lopsided game between the Twins and the Mets. If you remember, the Twins were on the wrong end of a 14-4 blowout, and May’s night took a painful turn when he surrendered a go-ahead home run to Mets slugger Dominic Smith.

“I was so emotionally charged that day that I just wanted to quit,” May shared his experience after that game in a podcast with Foul Territory.

“I was so emotionally charged that day that I just wanted to quit.”@IamTrevorMay on stepping away from social media after a poor outing to avoid negativity. pic.twitter.com/pp2OQ23w7l

— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) June 8, 2025

As you can expect in today’s hyperconnected world, the online backlash came swiftly and without mercy. But May, no stranger to the volatile nature of social media, was a step ahead. He announced a break from social media shortly after the game. It surely looked like a planned move. And if you go deep, you will find plenty about the toll the modern game takes beyond the field.

Nothing comes first than mental health. And the former Phillies prospect chose to stay away from the unwanted noise. But his break from social media lasted only 70 minutes! May came back and asked the fans to take all the pot shots they wanted. Because he thought not to give up to negative noises, but rather face them.

While it sounds satisfying to hear from him after all these years, deep inside, it’s time to focus more on player anxiety. For the unversed, May struggled with performance anxiety, pressure to meet expectations, and the toll of public scrutiny. He has since been open about his mental health battles. He is using his platform to advocate for more awareness around athletes’ emotional well-being.

With that, Trevor May’s story also highlighted how the Phillies were ineffective in utilizing their top prospect.

The Phillies’ mixed bag relationship with their farm system

Well, the Phillies have had a mixed record when it comes to utilizing their prospects. While they’ve produced a few key contributors through their system, there’s also a long list of top-tier talents who were either mismanaged, rushed, or traded before reaching their full potential. You already know Trevor May!

Starting with the positive side, the Phillies have seen notable success stories like Alec Bohm and Bryson Stott. Bohm, a former No. 3 overall pick, has become a reliable bat in the middle of the lineup. On the other hand, Stott, drafted in 2019, has emerged as a dependable infielder with mature plate discipline and steady defense.

This list of missed cases is long for the Phillies. J.P. Crawford, another former top prospect and 16th overall pick of the 2013 draft, never found his rhythm in the Phillies. But blossomed into a Gold Glove shortstop with the Mariners. The next in line, Domonic Brown, once among baseball’s most-hyped prospects, had a brief All-Star peak before fading quickly. Once compared with Barry Bonds, the Phillies failed to retain his form.

While the Phillies have shown the ability to draft and develop some key players, their overall track record suggests a mid-tier system when it comes to utilizing the talent. The reason? Might be a lack of patience and long-term vision. Hopefully, fans would see a string of new-age rookie talents on the team going ahead.

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