60DJohn Means
SP CLE
Tue 8/8/23 6:24 PM

Means (elbow/back) is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment Thursday with Double-A Bowie, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
EDGE Analysis
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.

60DJohn Means
SP CLE
Fri 7/28/23 4:12 PM

Means (elbow/back) could begin a rehab assignment with the Orioles' Florida Complex League affiliate by early August, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.
EDGE Analysis
Means suffered a back injury in late May which sidetracked his Tommy John rehab. He's back in a groove now, though, and nearly game ready. The hope is that he can be an option for the Orioles by early September.

60DJohn Means
SP CLE
Tue 7/18/23 4:04 PM

Means (elbow/back) threw another bullpen session Tuesday, Nathan Ruiz of The Baltimore Sun reports.
EDGE Analysis
Means hit a bump in the road in his recovery from Tommy John surgery when he suffered a muscle strain in his upper back in late May. However, he began throwing off flat ground last month and resumed mound work last week. The southpaw hopes to become an option for the Orioles sometime in August, but there remains no clear timetable for his activation.

60DJohn Means
SP CLE
Mon 6/26/23 5:04 PM

Means (elbow/back) played catch on the field Monday, Danielle Allentuck of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports.
EDGE Analysis
Means had to put a pause on his Tommy John surgery rehab in late May after suffering a muscle strain in his upper back, but he's now throwing again and suggested recently that he would like to be an option for the Orioles sometime in August. The 30-year-old left-hander hasn't pitched in a major-league game since April 2022.

60DJohn Means
SP CLE
Mon 6/12/23 12:32 PM

Means (elbow) recently said that he "feels great" after suffering an upper-back strain in a recent workout, and he suggested that an August return from the 60-day injured list is still a possibility, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
EDGE Analysis
Means hit a snag in his rehab program for his April 2022 Tommy John surgery when he developed the back injury at some point last month, but both he and the Orioles appear to be viewing the setback as a minor one. Prior to having his rehab slowed down due to the back issue, Means had advanced to incorporating all of his pitches in bullpen sessions, but it's unclear when he'll be ready to resume throwing. When he was healthy, Means had been the Orioles' staff ace since the 2019 season, but expectations should be tempered to some degree if he eventually makes a second-half return from the IL.

60DJohn Means
SP CLE
Fri 5/26/23 5:10 PM

Orioles general manager Mike Elias revealed Friday that Means (elbow) recently suffered a muscle strain in his upper back, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.
EDGE Analysis
It's in the scapular area but it is not shoulder-related. Nonetheless, this represents a fairly significant setback for Means in his ongoing recovery from Tommy John surgery. He had been on track to join the Orioles around the All-Star break but he can probably now be ruled out through at least the end of July.

60DJohn Means
SP CLE
Sun 4/9/23 10:23 AM

Means (elbow) threw breaking balls in Saturday's bullpen session, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
EDGE Analysis
It's the first time that Means has been able to throw all of his pitches in a session as he recovers from Tommy John surgery. The southpaw will need several more bullpen sessions and also a lengthy rehab session, but he has a chance to rejoin the Baltimore rotation around the All-Star break.

60DJohn Means
SP CLE
Tue 4/4/23 5:09 PM

Means (elbow) said Tuesday that he's up to 30 pitches in his bullpen sessions, Andy Kostka of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports.
EDGE Analysis
Means is only throwing fastballs and changeups in these workouts, but he expects to begin mixing in breaking balls soon. The 29-year-old left-hander appears on track to return to the Orioles' starting rotation around the middle of this season after requiring Tommy John surgery last April.

60DJohn Means
SP CLE
Thu 3/30/23 10:37 AM

The Orioles placed Means (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Thursday.
EDGE Analysis
The move frees up a spot on the 40-man roster. Means will be out until around the All-Star break as he continues to recover from Tommy John surgery.

60DJohn Means
SP CLE
Sun 3/19/23 9:42 AM

Means (elbow) threw a 30-pitch bullpen session Saturday and incorporated his changeup, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
EDGE Analysis
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.