The Orioles’ greatest beginning pitcher through the rebuild may quickly rejoin the membership because it sits atop the American League standings.
John Means, Baltimore’s opening day starter the earlier two seasons, will start his minor league rehabilitation project Thursday with Double-A Bowie, the Orioles mentioned Tuesday night. When the left-hander toes the rubber for the Baysox in Richmond, Virginia, it is going to be his first time pitching in a recreation since he tore the ulnar collateral ligament in his left elbow in April 2022.
Thursday will begin the clock on Means’ potential return to Baltimore, as minor league rehab assignments for pitchers can not prolong previous 30 days. Thirty days from Thursday is Sept. 8. Means may return earlier than that, however given the severity of his damage and the problem of recovering from Tommy John elbow reconstruction, it wouldn’t be a shock for his project to take upward of a month.
An early September return would mark an roughly 16-month restoration for Means — a reasonably regular size for a pitcher. The unique aim for Means was to return in July, however he suffered a nonthrowing-related damage in May when he strained his teres main muscle within the scapula space of his higher again.
It’s unclear what position Means can have ought to he return to Baltimore in September. The Orioles’ rotation seems full with Kyle Gibson, Jack Flaherty, Kyle Bradish, Dean Kremer and Grayson Rodriguez filling the 5 spots. But Rodriguez has already surpassed his single-season excessive in innings this yr, whereas Bradish and Kremer are approaching theirs. Flaherty, who the Orioles acquired from the St. Louis Cardinals on the deadline, eclipsed the 100-inning mark this season for the primary time since 2019. And Tyler Wells, the Orioles’ greatest beginning pitcher within the first half, is down in Double-A for what supervisor Brandon Hyde referred to as a “reset” after the right-hander struggled mightily within the second half amid workload issues of his personal.
It’s additionally attainable Means might be within the bullpen when he returns, both in an extended aid position just like the one Cole Irvin has occupied since leaving the rotation in mid-July or a center aid one as one other left-handed choice alongside Danny Coulombe and Cionel Pérez.
In late July, govt vp and normal supervisor Mike Elias mentioned the membership hasn’t decided what position Means will fill when he returns.
“I think it’s going to depend on so much that I don’t have right now,” Elias mentioned. “Like who’s on our team, how they’re doing, who’s healthy, how he’s doing. We have no concept of that. Obviously he’s a starting pitcher as far as a career standpoint and a skill standpoint, but the circumstances of the team and him will drive that decision.”
In 356 2/3 innings from 2018 to 2022, Means posted a 20-24 document and a 3.81 ERA with 308 strikeouts versus simply 73 walks. He was the Orioles’ All-Star in 2019, ending the season with a 3.60 ERA. He managed to go 12-11 for a workforce that misplaced 108 video games in 2019, successful 22.2% of the Orioles’ 54 wins. In 2021, he was once more Baltimore’s greatest starter with a 3.62 ERA in 146 2/3 innings.
Means has cut up his restoration this yr between the membership’s facility in Sarasota, Florida, and Baltimore. The membership he’d rejoin is way totally different from the one he final pitched for in April 2022. Before Adley Rutschman debuted in May 2022, the Orioles had been nonetheless a rebuilding membership and thought of one of many majors’ worst groups. Since, they’ve been one of many league’s greatest and this yr personal the AL’s greatest document at 70-42 getting into Tuesday evening’s recreation versus the Houston Astros.
Around the horn
- Second baseman Adam Frazier, who hasn’t performed since Thursday in Toronto, has a jammed proper thumb, Hyde mentioned. Frazier suffered the damage on the turf at Toronto’s Rogers Centre final week, the supervisor mentioned. Hyde mentioned Frazier “feels way better today” and is anticipated to be within the beginning lineup Wednesday.
- Center fielder Cedric Mullins began his third recreation Tuesday for Bowie throughout his rehab project. He opened the sport 2-for-3 and was caught stealing after trying to steal a base. Hyde mentioned Mullins, who in mid-July was positioned on the 10-day injured record for the second time this yr with a proper groin pressure, is “really close” to returning to Baltimore. When requested concerning the dwelling run that Mullins robbed Saturday, Hyde mentioned “I saw it, yeah. Looking forward to seeing that here.”
- Outfielder Aaron Hicks is near starting his rehab project, Hyde mentioned. Hicks, who was positioned on the IL on July 25 with a left hamstring pressure, ran the bases and took batting follow earlier than Tuesday’s recreation. “He’s progressing well,” Hyde mentioned.
- The Orioles on Monday claimed right-handed reliever Jacob Webb off waivers from the Los Angeles Angels. To create a spot on the 40-man roster for the right-hander, the Orioles transferred reliever Auston Voth to the 60-day IL. Webb has pitched 108 1/3 aid innings since 2019, together with 31 2/3 frames with a 3.98 ERA and 34 strikeouts this season. Hyde mentioned Webb will be a part of the Orioles’ bullpen inside the subsequent couple of days.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com