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Orioles left-hander John Means was going through his typical routine to pitch ahead of an extended spring training game, slamming a medicine ball against a wall to activate his upper body.
But on the final throw, Means “just kind of wanted to go a little hard,” he said Sunday morning in the Orioles’ Camden Yards clubhouse, only to feel a tug in his upper back. Having experienced shoulder issues in the past and working to address them throughout his recovery from Tommy John elbow reconstruction surgery, Means said his initial thought was, “Are you kidding me?” The injury — a strain of the teres major muscle in the shoulder blade area — proved to be unrelated to his previous ailments, but it will keep Means, the organization’s top starting pitcher for much of its rebuild, from returning from his elbow surgery in July as hoped.
Asked whether August is now the target, Means said, “Something like that,” saying he “absolutely” will pitch for Baltimore at some point this year.
“It’s just one of those things you have to let calm down before you start building back up again,” Means said. “We’re just gonna let it calm down here and then kind of start to build back up, and it shouldn’t put me back too much longer.”
In 2019, Means was the Orioles’ lone All-Star representative and finished second in American League Rookie of the Year voting. Across that campaign and the next three, Means posted 3.72 ERA in 69 games, 65 of them starts. On May 5, 2021, he threw the fourth solo no-hitter in Orioles history, striking out 12 Seattle Mariners with the only batter reaching on a dropped third strike. Baltimore’s opening day starter in 2021 and 2022, he exited his second start of the latter season with a forearm injury that was the result of a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching elbow and required season-ending surgery. In 2019 and 2021, Means spent time on the injured list with left shoulder ailments, but he said this injury is “in the muscle belly” and not related.
“Disappointing, obviously, but at least it’s not throwing injury or anything like that,” Means said. “But at the same time, that makes it a little bit more frustrating.”
The 30-year-old was expected to provide a midseason boost to a rotation that entered Sunday’s series finale with the Texas Rangers with the eighth-highest ERA in the majors while tied for the fourth-fewest wins above replacement, according to FanGraphs. Means reiterated Sunday how impressed he’s been with what the Orioles have done without him, with their 33-19 record the majors’ third best, but he also craves to be a full part of it.
“It’s been tough,” Means said. “And obviously, the last year and a half has been tough mentally and now to kind of add this on — I’ve been through harder before. It’s one of those things that I’m learning more than I ever have. We’re just gonna take it and roll with it and see what happens.”
Means said he’s able to exercise his lower body and core but will avoid throwing and most upper body work as the strain recovers. He said the injury doesn’t bother him unless he’s pulling something, offering the example of putting socks on.
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde reiterated executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias in saying Means’ setback will delay his return but not dramatically so.
“I feel badly for him,” Hyde said. “I think we’re fortunate and hopeful that it’s going to be not too much longer after his initial start-back date anyways, but I know he was looking forward to getting back out there and getting his rehab cranked up and just has to wait a little bit now. But that was great to see him, great to see him in here and love having him around.”
Means, too, is appreciating being around. As one of the few players who appeared in each of Baltimore’s rebuilding seasons who is still with the organization, he’s savoring the vibe in the Orioles’ clubhouse.
“It’s incredible,” Means said. “Just being in the clubhouse again, and you feel the energy, it’s so different. It’s so great to see.”
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