Orioles' John Means: Healthy heading into offseason
Rotowire
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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
Rotowire
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
Rotowire
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
Rotowire
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
Rotowire
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
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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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Orioles' John Means: Looks ready to return
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Means (elbow) threw five scoreless innings while allowing only one hit and two walks to go along with six strikeouts in a rehab outing with Triple-A Norfolk on Thursday, MILB.com reports.
Means was excellent in his fifth rehab outing and turned in his longest outing. He hasn't pitched in a big-league game since early April of 2022, so the Orioles have rightfully been hesitant to commit to him in a starting role upon his return. Regardless of his usage, Means looks poised to help the big-league club across the final month of the season.
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Orioles' John Means: Role not yet determined
Rotowire
The Orioles haven't determined whether Means (elbow) will be a starter or a reliever once he returns from the injured list, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
Means has been stretching out while on a rehab assignment, most recently tossing 4.1 innings for Triple-A Norfolk in his latest start Friday as he works his way back from Tommy John surgery. Despite being in the midst of the buildup process, the Orioles apparently don't view him as a lock to join the big-league rotation down the stretch. The Orioles suddenly have a big hole to fill at the back end of the bullpen with closer Felix Bautista going down with an elbow injury, though Means doesn't have the strikeout stuff to be a natural fit in the late innings.
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Orioles' John Means: Next rehab start coming Friday
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Means will shift his minor-league assignment from Double-A Bowie to Triple-A Norfolk and make his fourth rehab start Friday, Nathan Ruiz of The Baltimore Sun reports.
Means will jump to the highest rung of the minors as he continues to build up his innings and pitch counts while he gears up for a return from his April 2022 Tommy John surgery. The Orioles are targeting early September for Means to make his return from the 60-day IL, so the veteran southpaw could be in store for another rehab start beyond Sunday's outing in order to get fully stretched out. Means, who tossed 57 pitches and four innings in his most recent start for Bowie, will see his 30-day rehab window come to an end Sept. 8, so barring any setbacks, the Orioles are likely to activate him no later than Sept. 9, according to Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun.
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Orioles' John Means: Eyeing early-September return
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The Orioles hope to bring Means (elbow) back from the 60-day injured list in early September, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.
Means threw four innings of one-run ball while striking out four in Sunday's rehab start for Double-A Bowie, and based on his target timeline, he'll make at least one more rehab start before joining the big club. If he stays on turn, he would line up to make his 2023 Orioles debut either Sept. 4 or Sept. 5 in the series in Anaheim.
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Orioles' John Means: Builds up to four innings
Rotowire
Means (elbow) struck out four and allowed one run on two hits and no walks in his rehab start Sunday with Double-A Bowie.
Making his third rehab start with Bowie, Means turned in his best effort yet. He upped his innings count and pitch count (57, 38 strikes) and was highly efficient, with the lone run he permitted being a solo home run. The lefty will likely require one or two more outings in the minors to get fully stretched out for a starter's workload before getting the green light to come off the 60-day injured list. The impending return of Means -- who had been Baltimore's unquestioned ace from 2019 through 2021 before undergoing Tommy John surgery last April -- should provide a boost to the current American League East leaders.
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Orioles' John Means: Looks good in first rehab start
Rotowire
Means (elbow/back) allowed one hit while striking out two over two scoreless frames in his first rehab start with Double-A Bowie on Thursday.
Means required just 28 pitches to navigate through his two innings. The left-hander is about 16 months removed from Tommy John surgery and past the back injury which slowed his rehab. He will need multiple rehab outings as he builds back up, but Means is on track to potentially rejoin the Orioles' rotation by the end of the month.
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Orioles' John Means: Cleared for rehab assignment
Rotowire
Means (elbow/back) is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment Thursday with Double-A Bowie, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
Means is nearly 16 months removed from Tommy John surgery and about two-and-a-half months removed from the upper-back strain that derailed him in late May. Now with a fully clean bill of health, the 30-year-old left-hander should become an option for the current AL East leaders around the end of August or beginning of September.
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Orioles' John Means: Nearing rehab assignment
Rotowire
Means (elbow/back) could begin a rehab assignment with the Orioles' Florida Complex League affiliate by early August, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.
Means suffered a back injury in late May which sidetracked his Tommy John rehab. He's feeling better now and is nearly ready to take the mound in a game setting. The hope is that he can be an option for the Orioles by early September.
