Orioles left-hander John Means was going by way of his typical routine to pitch forward of an prolonged spring coaching sport, slamming a medication ball in opposition to a wall to activate his higher physique.
But on the ultimate throw, Means “just kind of wanted to go a little hard,” he mentioned Sunday morning within the Orioles’ Camden Yards clubhouse, solely to really feel a tug in his higher again. Having skilled shoulder points previously and dealing to handle them all through his restoration from Tommy John elbow reconstruction surgical procedure, Means mentioned his preliminary thought was, “Are you kidding me?” The damage — a pressure of the teres main muscle within the shoulder blade space — proved to be unrelated to his earlier illnesses, however it should maintain Means, the group’s high beginning pitcher for a lot of its rebuild, from getting back from his elbow surgical procedure in July as hoped.
Asked whether or not August is now the goal, Means mentioned, “Something like that,” saying he “absolutely” will pitch for Baltimore in some unspecified time in the future this yr.
“It’s just one of those things you have to let calm down before you start building back up again,” Means mentioned. “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 consultant and completed second in American League Rookie of the Year voting. Across that marketing campaign and the subsequent three, Means posted 3.72 ERA in 69 video games, 65 of them begins. On May 5, 2021, he threw the fourth solo no-hitter in Orioles historical past, putting out 12 Seattle Mariners with the one batter reaching on a dropped third strike. Baltimore’s opening day starter in 2021 and 2022, he exited his second begin of the latter season with a forearm damage that was the results of a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching elbow and required season-ending surgical procedure. In 2019 and 2021, Means hung out on the injured listing with left shoulder illnesses, however he mentioned this damage is “in the muscle belly” and never associated.
“Disappointing, obviously, but at least it’s not throwing injury or anything like that,” Means mentioned. “But at the same time, that makes it a little bit more frustrating.”
The 30-year-old was anticipated to supply a midseason increase to a rotation that entered Sunday’s collection finale with the Texas Rangers with the eighth-highest ERA within the majors whereas tied for the fourth-fewest wins above alternative, in accordance with FanGraphs. Means reiterated Sunday how impressed he’s been with what the Orioles have achieved with out him, with their 33-19 file the majors’ third finest, however he additionally craves to be a full a part of it.
“It’s been tough,” Means mentioned. “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 mentioned he’s capable of train his decrease physique and core however will keep away from throwing and most higher physique work because the pressure recovers. He mentioned the damage doesn’t trouble him until he’s pulling one thing, providing the instance of placing socks on.
Orioles supervisor Brandon Hyde reiterated government vice chairman and common supervisor Mike Elias in saying Means’ setback will delay his return however not dramatically so.
“I feel badly for him,” Hyde mentioned. “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 round. As one of many few gamers who appeared in every of Baltimore’s rebuilding seasons who continues to be with the group, he’s savoring the vibe within the Orioles’ clubhouse.
“It’s incredible,” Means mentioned. “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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Source: www.bostonherald.com