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Player Outlook
John Means underwent Tommy John surgery in April of 2022. He was ticketed for a return around the All-Star break, but he was diagnosed with an upper back strain in May, putting his rehab on hold. Means finally made it back for four starts in September. He posted a 2.66 ERA and .72 ERA over those 23.2 innings, but don't get too excited as Means fanned only 10 batters while surrendering four homers. He benefited from a .130 BABIP and 88.7 percent left on base mark, both which would have corrected if he compiled more innings. Most importantly, Means' velocity and control were at pre-surgery level, and starting four games should allow Means to undergo a regular offseason. Even so, with fewer then 50 frames thrown last season (including rehab games), Means 2024 workload will likely be capped. He should benefit from the 2022 renovations in Camden Yards, but Means has never been a strikeout hurler, so he remains subject to the whims of batted ball fate. If someone wants to draft last season's small sample, by all means, let them.

Fantasy Stats

Year fpts
Fantasy Points
fpts/g
Fantasy Points per Game
ip
Innings Pitched
w
Wins
l
Losses
sv
Saves
so
Strikeouts
bb
Base on Balls (Walk)
era
Earned Run Average
whip
Walks and Hits Allowed Per Inning
2024 0.00 0.00
2023 5413.5 23.7 1 2 10 4 2.66 0.72
2022 14.57.3 8.0 7 2 3.38 1.25
3y Avg. 12711.5 59.3 2 4 50 11 3.49 1.01
Projections Powered by
Fantasy Performance by Week
28%
Roster
2%
Start
#91
SP Rank

Fantasy News

  • Orioles' John Means: Opens season on IL

    The Orioles placed Means on the 15-day injured list Thursday with a left forearm strain. Means will be eased along slowly into the season after he experienced a flareup in his surgically repaired left elbow back in October. According to MLB.com, Means was about a month behind the Orioles' healthy pitchers in his throwing progression when he reported to spring training Feb. 14, so he only recently reached the point in his ramp-up program where he's able to face hitters. Means is expected to report to Triple-A Norfolk in the near future for a rehab assignment and is likely to make multiple starts on the farm before the Orioles are comfortable bringing him back from the IL.
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  • Orioles' John Means: Set for rehab assignment

    Means (elbow) is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Norfolk soon, Dan Connolly of The Athletic reports. Means is set to make several rehab starts with Triple-A Norfolk before he's considered for activation. The left-hander experienced a setback with his surgically repaired left elbow last October, and Orioles general manager Mike Elias said he expects Means to be ready for his season debut at some point in the first half of the season. For his part, Means has expressed a desire to be ready to pitch in major-league games before the end of April, but how his minor-league starts go will ultimately determine whether that timeline is realistic.
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  • Orioles' John Means: Debut likely early in first half

    Orioles general manager Mike Elias said Friday that Means (elbow) should be ready for his season debut early in the first half of the season, Rich Dubroff of BaltimoreBaseball.com reports. It's a timeline without much clarity, but Means has been throwing off a mound and he should be ready to face hitters soon. The lefty has said previously that he hopes to be back with the big club before the end of April.
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  • Orioles' John Means: Throws bullpen session

    Means (elbow) threw a bullpen session Wednesday, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports. Means is continuing his throwing progression as the club slow-plays him after he had some left elbow soreness last October. The left-hander will not pitch in Grapefruit League games but is hopeful of rejoining Baltimore's rotation before the end of April.
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  • Orioles' John Means: Season debut projected for April

    Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said Friday that the team's tentative plans have Means (elbow) making his season debut in April, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports. When exactly in April the left-hander is expected back isn't clear, but at least there's now a timeline on record. Means experienced a setback with his surgically repaired left elbow last October, and he remains about a month behind the team's other starters to begin camp. With Means and Kyle Bradish (elbow) slated for stints on the injured list to begin the season, Tyler Wells and Cole Irvin have the inside tracks on spots in Baltimore's rotation.
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  • Orioles' John Means: IL stint expected

    Means (elbow) conceded Friday that it's unlikely he will be ready in time for Opening Day, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports. Orioles general manager Mike Elias revealed Thursday that Means is one month behind schedule as he rebounds from a left elbow flare-up last October. While it seems as though he's recovered from the elbow issue, Means still needs time to build back up. He'll join Kyle Bradish (elbow) on the IL, creating a pair of early-season vacancies in the O's rotation.
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  • Orioles' John Means: Injured list stint possible

    Orioles general manager Mike Elias said Thursday that Means (elbow) is a month behind schedule, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports. Means suffered a flare-up with his surgically-repaired left elbow last October. While previous indications had been that the southpaw was past the issue, clearly the team still plans to proceed cautiously with him in spring training. Elias was not ready to commit to a stint on the injured list for Means, but it's difficult to see him avoiding one if he's a month behind other Orioles starters.
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  • Orioles' John Means: Settles with Orioles

    The Orioles and Means avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $3.325 million contract Thursday, Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports. Means missed most of the 2023 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery and a back injury, but he'll still receive a little salary bump in his third and final year of arbitration eligibility. The veteran left-hander will enter his walk year with a clean bill of health.
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  • Orioles' John Means: Healthy heading into offseason

    Orioles general manager Mike Elias said Thursday that Means' left elbow checked out fine and the pitcher will participate fully in spring training, Steve Melewski of MASNSports.com reports. Means was excluded from the team's ALDS roster because of elbow soreness, which initially raised a red flag considering this was his first year back from Tommy John surgery. However, the left-hander was expected to be ready for the ALCS had the Orioles advanced, so there never appeared to be much internal concern about the setback. Means posted a 2.66 ERA and 10:4 K:BB over 23.2 innings in 2023 after rejoining Baltimore's rotation late in the season.
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  • Orioles' John Means: Held off ALDS roster

    Means won't pitch during Baltimore's ALDS matchup against the Rangers due to elbow soreness, Nathan Ruiz of The Baltimore Sun reports. Means' elbow didn't recover properly after throwing a sim game earlier in the week, so he'll sacrifice his spot on the Orioles' playoff roster as he takes a few extra days to heal. Should Baltimore advance to the ALCS, Means is expected to be available.
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  • Orioles' John Means: Quality start in loss

    Means (1-2) took the loss Friday, allowing two runs on three hits and no walks over 6.1 innings against the Red Sox. He struck out four. Means picked up his second straight quality start after firing 7.1 one-run innings against Cleveland on Sept. 23. The only blemish on the 30-year-old lefty's outing Friday was a two-run homer by Trevor Story in the fifth inning. Means wraps up his return from Tommy John surgery this season having posted an impressive 2.66 ERA and 0.72 WHIP over 23.2 innings with a 10:4 K:BB.
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  • Orioles' John Means: Shines in first victory

    Means (1-1) earned the win over Cleveland on Saturday, allowing one run on one hit and one walk while striking out four batters over 7.1 innings. Means was outstanding Saturday, holding the Guardians hitless until Andres Gimenez tagged him for a solo homer with two outs in the seventh. The left-handed hurler otherwise put just two runners on base (on a walk and a hit-by-pitch), needing just 96 pitches to cover 7.1 frames. This was Means' third start after spending the majority of the season on the injured list. He's been good since his return, posting a 2.60 ERA, 0.81 WHIP and 6:4 K:BB over 17.1 innings. Means appears to already be built up enough to have no restrictions as a rotation option for the postseason.
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  • Orioles' John Means: Better in second outing

    Means did not factor into the decision Monday, allowing one run on four hits and three walks over five innings in an 8-7 win over Houston. He struck out one. After allowing a run in the opening frame, Means would rebound to blank the Astros over his final four innings in an eventual no-decision. The left-hander only has two strikeouts in two starts (10 innings) since returning from Tommy John surgery, though he's been able to do a relatively effective job of limiting damage by allowing just four runs. Means will try for his first win since 2021 in his next outing, currently scheduled for this weekend in Cleveland.
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  • Orioles' John Means: Takes loss in long-awaited return

    Means (0-1) took the loss Tuesday, allowing three runs on five hits over five innings against St. Louis. He struck out one without issuing any walks. Following a 517-day absence due to elbow and back injuries, Means threw 75 pitches (55 strikes), surrendering two solo home runs and a sacrifice fly. Unfortunately, the Orioles' offense wasn't up for the occasion, and the 30-year-old was charged with the loss in his season debut. It was an encouraging outing, given the circumstances, but Means was only able to generate eight swinging strikes and record one strikeout Tuesday. An All-Star who finished second in AL Rookie of the Year voting to Yordan Alvarez in 2019, Means was chosen as Baltimore's Opening Day starter in 2021 and 2022 before multiple injuries caused a lengthy sabbatical for the southpaw. If he's able to regain some of his past form, Means could prove to be a valuable fantasy asset down the stretch. Baltimore's current six-man rotation means his next start is likely to come early next week in Houston.
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  • Orioles' John Means: Activated ahead of season debut

    Means (elbow) was activated from the 60-day injured list Tuesday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports. Means will make his long-awaited season debut on Tuesday with a start against the Cardinals. The left-hander hasn't pitched in the majors since April 2022 and had a lengthy setback with his Tommy John surgery rehab earlier this season when he dealt with a back issue. He's healthy now, though, and will hope to give the Orioles a shot in the arm after posting a 3.74 ERA and 22:8 K:BB over 21.2 innings covering six rehab starts with Double-A Bowie and Triple-A Norfolk. Means went five innings in each of his last two rehab outings and topped out at 86 pitches, so he should be able to handle a decent-sized workload Tuesday. The O's will certainly keep a close eye on him, though, following his long layoff.
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  • Orioles' John Means: Possible waiver wire pickups

    Though Kyle Wright is nearly twice as rostered as John Means, the latter figures to be more usable in Fantasy from the start. His activation Tuesday is more certain, and while he's coming back from something more invasive (Tommy John surgery), he got a chance to build up to five innings and 86 pitches in the minors, which means he could be ready to deliver a quality start right away. Maybe the Orioles will play it more cautiously with him. Shoot, maybe his own performance will disqualify him, though it's worth noting he looked like himself on his rehab assignment. And who is that exactly? A control-and-command lefty who collects strikeouts at a decent rate with his changeup and has the sort of fly-ball tendencies that should play well at the new-look Camden Yards. Starting him against the Cardinals this week is risky, but he may end up getting a second turn.
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  • Orioles' John Means: Returning Tuesday

    Means (elbow) will be activated from the 60-day injured list to start Tuesday's game against the Cardinals, Nathan Ruiz of The Baltimore Sun reports. Means has been sidelined since April of 2022 due to his elbow injury, but he's been on a rehab assignment over the last month in which he's posted a 3.74 ERA and 1.15 WHIP in 21.2 innings over six outings. Manager Brandon Hyde recently suggested that the Orioles could cut down to a five-man rotation, but Means will at least make his season debut Tuesday against St. Louis, and it's possible he retains a starting role down the stretch.
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  • Orioles' John Means: Looks on track to return next week

    Means (elbow) struck out four over five innings Wednesday and allowed three earned runs on six hits and two walks in a rehab start for Triple-A Norfolk. The veteran lefty's 30-day rehab assignment window will come to a close Friday, so his start Wednesday was presumably his last in the minors before he returns from the 60-day injured list. Means pitched five innings in each of his final two rehab starts with Norfolk, tossing 67 pitches (45 strikes) on Wednesday after throwing 86 pitches in his prior appearance. He turned in a 3.74 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 22:8 K:BB in 21.2 innings over his six rehab outings between Norfolk and Double-A Bowie as he works his way back from April 2022 Tommy John surgery. The Orioles have already moved Cole Irvin to the bullpen to facilitate Means' addition to the team's six-man rotation, though manager Brandon Hyde told Andy Kostka of TheBaltimoreBanner.com earlier this week that Baltimore could downsize to a five-man unit as the postseason approaches. Even in that case, Means might remain in a starting role. Both Jack Flaherty and Kyle Gibson have struggled of late, and while rookie Grayson Rodriguez has been excellent since rejoining the Orioles after the All-Star break, the organization may have some desire to keep his innings in check down the stretch.
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  • Orioles' John Means: Possible waiver wire pickups

    A report last week suggested that the Orioles weren't sure whether they'd reintegrate John Means as a starter or reliever down the stretch, but come on. He just threw five one-hit innings in his latest rehab outing Thursday, and Cole Irvin and John Flaherty both stink. Prior to losing most of the past two years to Tommy John surgery, Means was arguably the most reliable pitcher the Orioles had, a control-and-command lefty who had learned to get strikeouts at a respectable rate. He was vulnerable to the long ball, a side effect of his extreme fly-ball tendencies, but his injury more or less coincided with the unveiling of the now pitcher-friendly Camden Yards. It's like the new dimensions were tailored specifically for him, and if his return goes without a hitch, they could make him better than ever down the stretch.
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  • Orioles' John Means: Draws another rehab start

    Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said Sunday that Means (elbow) will make another minor-league rehab start prior to being activated from the 60-day injured list, Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun reports. Means' rehab assignment will reach its 30-day limit Friday, so his upcoming outing will likely be his last in the minors before he's cleared to make his 2023 debut for the Orioles. The veteran southpaw -- who is working his way back from April 2022 Tommy John surgery -- looked sharp his last time out Thursday for Triple-A Norfolk. He struck out six while allowing one hit and two walks over five scoreless innings, building up to 86 pitches in the process. If Means takes the hill for Norfolk on Tuesday, he could reinstated from the IL as soon as next Sunday.
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