Means (elbow) threw a 30-pitch bullpen session Saturday and incorporated his changeup, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
The 29-year-old continues throwing off a mound and is no longer limited to just throwing his fastball. Means still has a long way to go in his rehab from Tommy John surgery, but he could rejoin the Orioles' starting rotation around the All-Star break if he can avoid any setbacks.
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Orioles' John Means: Throws off half-mound Monday
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Means (elbow) threw 20 fastballs at about 50 percent intensity off a half-mound Monday, Andy Kostka of The Baltimore Banner reports.
It's a big step for the left-hander in his long road back from Tommy John surgery. Means was pleased with how things went, saying afterward that "it felt like playing baseball again." The veteran southpaw is tentatively projected to rejoin the Orioles' rotation around the All-Star break, but he has many more hoops to jump through before that can become a reality.
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Orioles' John Means: Set for half-mound work next week
Rotowire
Means said Wednesday that he expects to advance from throwing off flat ground to throwing off a half-mound early next week, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
Both Means and manager Brandon Hyde had implied earlier in spring training that the southpaw was on track to resume half-mound work by the end of February, but Means ended up staying in a holding pattern in his rehab program for Tommy John surgery a little longer than initially anticipated. With neither the pitcher nor team indicating Means suffered a setback, he should still have a chance to make it back from the injured list at some point in July. However, Means still has several markers to hit in his recovery from surgery before the Orioles offer a more precise target date for him to make his 2023 debut.
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Orioles' John Means: Half-mound session pushed back
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Means (elbow) said Monday that he plans on throwing his first bullpen session off a half-mound early next week, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
On Sunday, Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said that Means was on track to throw off a half-mound within the next few days, but the southpaw clarified one day later that he's currently in the "deload" phase of his throwing program and will begin ramping back up next week. Means, who is on the mend from last April's Tommy John surgery, is targeting July for his potential 2023 season debut.
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Orioles' John Means: Set for half-mound work
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Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said Sunday that Means (elbow) is scheduled to throw off a half-mound at some point during the upcoming week, Andy Kostka of The Baltimore Sun reports.
Means won't take the hill Monday, but the rehabbing southpaw looks like he'll be ready to take the next step forward in his recovery from last April's Tommy John surgery within the next handful of days. Per Jake Rill of MLB.com, general manager Mike Elias said a July return date is a possibility for Means, though that would be on the early side for the 29-year-old's 2023 debut. As such, those in redraft leagues who are stashing Means shouldn't plan on him being ready to pitch until the second half, and his pitch counts could be managed carefully for several starts.
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Orioles' John Means: Nearing mound work
Rotowire
Means (elbow) said Sunday's he's throwing from 140 feet and expects to throw off a half-mound at the start of spring training, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
The left-hander underwent Tommy John surgery last April and isn't expected to be ready for big-league action until at least July, but it's still a good sign he's ramping up his throwing program. A more detailed return timeline should come into focus as Means increases his throwing intensity over the next couple months.
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Orioles' John Means: Out until at least July
Rotowire
Means (elbow) won't rejoin the Orioles' rotation until at least July, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
Means underwent Tommy John surgery in late April of last year, so it's not a surprise to hear the team isn't expecting to have him available at least until around the All-Star break. Fantasy managers would be wise to keep expectations low for the left-hander in 2023, with the hope that he can regain his form and workload in 2024.
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Orioles' John Means: Starts throwing again
Rotowire
Means (elbow) announced Monday via his personal Twitter account that he has begun a throwing program.
Means played light catch Monday, marking the first noteworthy step forward in his recovery from Tommy John surgery, which he underwent in late April. The southpaw isn't far along enough in the rehab process for the Orioles to pinpoint a precise timeline for his return for pitching in games, but he'll most likely open the 2023 campaign on the 60-day injured list, which would sideline him for at least the first two months of the season.
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Orioles' John Means: Avoids arbitration
Rotowire
Means (elbow) signed a two-year, $5.925 million deal with the Orioles on Saturday, avoiding arbitration for the next two seasons, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.
Means won't be pitching for the Orioles any time soon, as he underwent Tommy John surgery in late April, a procedure which will cost him all of this season and a fair portion of next year as well. The two-year agreement signed Saturday allows him to keep his focus on his rehab throughout this season and the following offseason.
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Orioles' John Means: Undergoes successful surgery
Rotowire
Means (elbow) underwent successful Tommy John surgery Wednesday, Rich Dubroff of BaltimoreBaseball.com reports.
Means will be forced to miss the remainder of 2022 following his procedure, but general manager Mike Elias is confident that the southpaw will be available for a "good portion of the 2023 season," Nathan Ruiz of The Baltimore Sun reports. The Orioles haven't yet established their rotation for this weekend with several starters hurt.
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Orioles' John Means: Will undergo Tommy John surgery
Rotowire
Means announced Saturday via his personal Twitter account that he will undergo Tommy John surgery.
Means revealed that he underwent multiple MRIs on his injured left arm, and it was ultimately decided that he would go under the knife. A timeline for Means' return could be revealed post-procedure, but his 2022 campaign will come to an early end, and his recovery will likely extend into next season.
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Orioles' John Means: Moves to 60-day IL
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Means (elbow) was transferred to the 60-day injured list Sunday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
Means landed on the 10-day IL on Friday with a sprained left elbow, and he'll now be sidelined for at least two months after shifting to the 60-day IL. The 28-year-old remains without an official recovery timeline, as manager Brandon Hyde said Saturday that the lefty is "not going to be on a mound for a while."
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Orioles' John Means: No timetable to return
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Manager Brandon Hyde said Saturday that Means (elbow) is "not going to be on a mound for a while," Dan Connolly of The Athletic reports.
Means landed on the 10-day IL with a left elbow strain Friday and is undergoing further tests. While the results of his examination aren't yet known, Hyde said the southpaw will get a second opinion once the first round of tests are complete. The Orioles' skipper also said that he doesn't know whether Means' injury will be a season-long issue, so it appears as though the 28-year-old is in line for a lengthy absence.
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Orioles' John Means: Out with elbow strain
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Means was placed on the 10-day injured list Friday with a left elbow strain, Rich Dubroff of BaltimoreBaseball.com reports.
The 28-year-old departed Wednesday's start against the Brewers after only 51 pitches due to forearm tightness, and the injury has now been clarified as an elbow strain following an MRI. The severity of the strain remains unclear, but it's safe to assume Means will spend more than the 10-day minimum on the shelf. It's a big blow to the Orioles' starting rotation, which was already short on established options.
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Orioles' John Means: Will undergo MRI
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Mean is scheduled to undergo an MRI after leaving Wednesday's start against Milwaukee with left forearm tightness, Dan Connolly of The Athletic reports.
The left-hander apparently isn't overly concerned about the injury and hopes to throw again shortly after the MRI. Means didn't factor in the decision Wednesday after giving up two runs on two hits with two strikeouts and one walk across four innings, and his availability for his next turn through the rotation will remain in question at least until the Orioles update his status.
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Orioles' John Means: Dealing with forearm tightness
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Means was removed from Tuesday's start versus the Brewers with left forearm tightness, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
Means made an abrupt exit after four innings during Tuesday's start, and his initial diagnosis is a worrying one. He left in line for the loss after giving up two runs on two hits with two strikeouts and one walk. The specifics and severity of the injury remain unclear, but forearm tightness is often a precursor to more serious issues. Means should be considered day-to-day until more information is available, leaving his availability for the next turn through the rotation up in the air.
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Orioles' John Means: Leaves after 51 pitches
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Means was removed from Tuesday's game against the Brewers after four innings for undisclosed reasons, Nathan Ruiz of The Baltimore Sun reports.
Means was at only 51 pitches and had retired seven straight batters since allowing a two-out, RBI single during the second inning, so his exit clearly isn't performance-related. The 28-year-old left in line for the loss and allowed two runs on two hits and a walk with two strikeouts. Means' status should be updated by the team sometime during or after Wednesday's contest.
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Orioles' John Means: Strikes out five in no-decision
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Means allowed one run on six hits and a walk over four innings in Friday's loss to the Rays. He struck out five and did not factor in the decision.
Means worked two scoreless frames to begin the game before loading the bases in the third inning. He managed to escape after yielding just one run on a sacrifice fly by Brandon Lowe. The 28-year-old southpaw posted a 3.62 ERA across 146.2 innings last season and will spend another year as Baltimore's ace. Means is lined up to face the Brewers at home next week.
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Orioles' John Means: Nabs Opening Day start
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Manager Brandon Hyde announced Thursday that Means will start the Orioles' April 8 season opener in Tampa Bay, Zachary Silver of MLB.com reports.
Coming off a 2021 campaign in which he submitted a 3.62 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 134:26 K:BB across 146.2 innings, Means was the clear top choice for the Opening Day nod in an Orioles rotation otherwise lacking in quality options. Means proved vulnerable to the long ball (30 home runs allowed) last season, but the ballpark changes at Camden Yards in 2022 could help the southpaw in terms of power suppression. In addition to increasing the distance from home plate to left field and left-center field by nearly 30 feet, the Orioles raised the height of Camden Yards' outfield wall by nearly six feet.
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Orioles' John Means: Jolted by Jays
Rotowire
Means (6-9) took the loss Saturday, surrendering seven runs (six earned) on seven hits -- including three home runs -- over three innings in a 10-1 rout at the hands of the Blue Jays. He struck out two without walking a batter.
The southpaw wasn't fooling many hitters, as Means served up homers to Vladimir Guerrero and Teoscar Hernandez in the first inning before George Springer took him deep in the second, and two of the other hits off him were doubles. Means will wrap up the regular season with a 3.62 ERA and 134:26 K:BB through 146.2 innings.
