Fenway Park has been host to loads of highlights in John Means’ profession, the positioning of his main league debut in 2018 and first opening day begin with the Orioles in 2021.
It’s additionally the place, this weekend, he rejoined the crew prematurely of his long-awaited activation from the injured listing after his April 2022 Tommy John elbow reconstruction. Means, the Orioles’ prime beginning pitcher from 2019 to 2021, will make his first main league look in almost 17 months Tuesday as Baltimore’s starter towards the St. Louis Cardinals, supervisor Brandon Hyde stated after Sunday’s collection finale with the Boston Red Sox.
The 30-year-old left-hander returns to the rotation he shepherded for a lot of the group’s rebuild. Before Sunday’s recreation and official information of his looming activation, Means stated even becoming a member of the Orioles as a reliever wouldn’t uninteresting what he’s out to realize with a crew pursuing its first playoff berth since 2016.
“I just want to win the World Series, to be honest with you,” Means stated.
The Orioles might want to clear a spot on their energetic roster for Means, although there’s already a gap on their 40-man roster for him to return off the 60-day injured listing. Means was an All-Star and the runner-up for American League Rookie of the Year in 2019 and was introduced because the Orioles’ opening day starter the following three seasons, although arm fatigue prevented him from making the project in 2020.
Between unexpectedly making the season-opening roster in 2019 and exiting his second begin of 2022 with an elbow damage that necessitated surgical procedure, Means posted a 3.72 ERA in 69 outings for Baltimore, considered one of which was a 12-strikeout no-hitter towards the Seattle Mariners in May 2021.
A 12 months later, he was on the IL, present process a process with a restoration time usually lasting greater than a 12 months. The Orioles initially steered he may return this July, however as he started to progress towards a return in May, Means suffered a pressure in his higher again that was unrelated to his elbow damage.
On Aug. 10, he made his first rehabilitation outing with Double-A Bowie, and over six begins cut up between there and Triple-A Norfolk, he gave up 9 runs in 21 2/3 innings with 22 strikeouts. He pitched into the fifth inning in every look with the Tides, constructing as much as 86 pitches in his penultimate outing earlier than finishing 5 innings on 67 pitches Wednesday. He threw a bullpen session Saturday at Fenway Park.
“I feel really good,” Means stated. “Body feels good. Pitches feel good, so I’m ready to go.”
Means stated he was happy together with his repertoire, although his low-90s fastball velocity was a tick beneath what he confirmed earlier than the damage. He praised the motion on his off-speed pitches — his signature change-up, plus a curveball and slider — and the reactions every of his choices drew from hitters.
The subsequent take a look at is how they carry out towards main leaguers. Means turns into one other pitcher within the combine to start out for the Orioles come the playoffs. Young right-handers Kyle Bradish, Grayson Rodriguez and Dean Kremer have established themselves as front-runners to get the ball in a postseason collection; solely Kremer has shared the Orioles’ rotation with Means. But veterans Kyle Gibson and Jack Flaherty have struggled with consistency, and Means recapturing the shape that made him Baltimore’s greatest starter throughout the rebuild may give the Orioles a set foursome come October.
They’ve bought to get there first, and Means is worked up to assist them accomplish that.
“I’ve been waiting a while for this,” Means stated. “Just wanting ahead to at any time when that chance is, simply attempt to reap the benefits of it.
“It’s gonna be a lot of fun. This is what we dreamed about for a while, so I’m glad to finally feel part of it.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com