John Means hasn’t played in an MLB game since April 13, 2022, when he pitched against the Milwaukee Brewers.
After a four-inning appearance in just his second outing of the season, Means was pulled from the game, and that is when tragedy struck. The left-hander would have to have Tommy John Surgery on his throwing arm.
Means was originally drafted in the 11th round of the 2014 MLB Draft out of West Virginia. He would spend almost four years in the minors before making his big league debut on September 26, 2018, when he would come in relief and pitch 3.1 innings, giving up six hits, five earned runs and striking out four.
Means would get his first MLB start on April 9, 2019, against the Oakland Athletics, and the rest is history. He has already pitched in 70 games in his career and currently has a 20-24 record with a 3.81 ERA and 308 strikeouts in 356.2 innings pitched.
Means would also be given an All-Star nod and finish second in AL Rookie of the Year voting both in the year 2019. Means also tossed a no-hitter on May 5, 2021, against the Seattle Mariners that really inserted him into the history books.
Fast forward almost a year and a half later, Means would take the mound on August 10, 2023, for the Bowie Baysox, when he would face the Richmond Flying Squirrels. Means would start off the game with a ground out before collecting his first strikeout in almost 16 months. He would finish the inning inducing a flyout.
Means would have another 1-2-3 inning in the second, including striking out another batter. He would come out for the third inning, and after giving up a lead-off single, his day would be finished. Means would throw a total of 28 pitches, with 17 of them being strikes, and finished the day with two strikeouts.
There is no complete timetable for Means to return to the big leagues, but from what I saw in this game, he looks like he could go back to the old John Means that we love to watch.
It’s obvious that questions will arise on what the plans for the rotation will be when Means comes back, but the main point of this story is the excitement that the O’s former ace can return back to the team prior to season’s end.
What are your thoughts on Means’ first rehab outing? Let us know in the comments below! Make sure to follow The Baltimore Battery on Facebook, Twitter and TikTok, and use the hashtag #baltimorebattery when sharing our content!
Represent The Baltimore Battery and show off your fandom with our official merchandise! Reasonably-priced attire made just for you! Visit our official shop site by clicking here!
Like Zack’s content? Follow him on X – @Zackattack8211 and @OsMilbUpdates for all the latest news and updates on the O’s farm system!
THE BALTIMORE BATTERY 
Leave a comment