Means (elbow) threw a 30-pitch bullpen session Saturday and incorporated his changeup, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
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.
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Orioles' John Means: Throws off half-mound Monday
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Means (elbow) threw 20 fastballs at about 50 percent intensity off a half-mound Monday, Andy Kostka of The Baltimore Banner reports.
It's a big step for the left-hander in his long road back from Tommy John surgery. Means was pleased with how things went, saying afterward that "it felt like playing baseball again." The veteran southpaw is tentatively projected to rejoin the Orioles' rotation around the All-Star break, but he has many more hoops to jump through before that can become a reality.
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Orioles' John Means: Set for half-mound work next week
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Means said Wednesday that he expects to advance from throwing off flat ground to throwing off a half-mound early next week, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
Both Means and manager Brandon Hyde had implied earlier in spring training that the southpaw was on track to resume half-mound work by the end of February, but Means ended up staying in a holding pattern in his rehab program for Tommy John surgery a little longer than initially anticipated. With neither the pitcher nor team indicating Means suffered a setback, he should still have a chance to make it back from the injured list at some point in July. However, Means still has several markers to hit in his recovery from surgery before the Orioles offer a more precise target date for him to make his 2023 debut.
Orioles' John Means: Half-mound session pushed back
Rotowire
Means (elbow) said Monday that he plans on throwing his first bullpen session off a half-mound early next week, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
On Sunday, Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said that Means was on track to throw off a half-mound within the next few days, but the southpaw clarified one day later that he's currently in the "deload" phase of his throwing program and will begin ramping back up next week. Means, who is on the mend from last April's Tommy John surgery, is targeting July for his potential 2023 season debut.
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Orioles' John Means: Set for half-mound work
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Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said Sunday that Means (elbow) is scheduled to throw off a half-mound at some point during the upcoming week, Andy Kostka of The Baltimore Sun reports.
Means won't take the hill Monday, but the rehabbing southpaw looks like he'll be ready to take the next step forward in his recovery from last April's Tommy John surgery within the next handful of days. Per Jake Rill of MLB.com, general manager Mike Elias said a July return date is a possibility for Means, though that would be on the early side for the 29-year-old's 2023 debut. As such, those in redraft leagues who are stashing Means shouldn't plan on him being ready to pitch until the second half, and his pitch counts could be managed carefully for several starts.
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Orioles' John Means: Nearing mound work
Rotowire
Means (elbow) said Sunday's he's throwing from 140 feet and expects to throw off a half-mound at the start of spring training, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
The left-hander underwent Tommy John surgery last April and isn't expected to be ready for big-league action until at least July, but it's still a good sign he's ramping up his throwing program. A more detailed return timeline should come into focus as Means increases his throwing intensity over the next couple months.
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Orioles' John Means: Out until at least July
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Means (elbow) won't rejoin the Orioles' rotation until at least July, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
Means underwent Tommy John surgery in late April of last year, so it's not a surprise to hear the team isn't expecting to have him available at least until around the All-Star break. Fantasy managers would be wise to keep expectations low for the left-hander in 2023, with the hope that he can regain his form and workload in 2024.
Means (elbow) announced Monday via his personal Twitter account that he has begun a throwing program.
Means played light catch Monday, marking the first noteworthy step forward in his recovery from Tommy John surgery, which he underwent in late April. The southpaw isn't far along enough in the rehab process for the Orioles to pinpoint a precise timeline for his return for pitching in games, but he'll most likely open the 2023 campaign on the 60-day injured list, which would sideline him for at least the first two months of the season.
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Orioles' John Means: Avoids arbitration
Rotowire
Means (elbow) signed a two-year, $5.925 million deal with the Orioles on Saturday, avoiding arbitration for the next two seasons, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.
Means won't be pitching for the Orioles any time soon, as he underwent Tommy John surgery in late April, a procedure which will cost him all of this season and a fair portion of next year as well. The two-year agreement signed Saturday allows him to keep his focus on his rehab throughout this season and the following offseason.
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Orioles' John Means: Undergoes successful surgery
Rotowire
Means (elbow) underwent successful Tommy John surgery Wednesday, Rich Dubroff of BaltimoreBaseball.com reports.
Means will be forced to miss the remainder of 2022 following his procedure, but general manager Mike Elias is confident that the southpaw will be available for a "good portion of the 2023 season," Nathan Ruiz of The Baltimore Sun reports. The Orioles haven't yet established their rotation for this weekend with several starters hurt.
Orioles' John Means: Will undergo Tommy John surgery
Rotowire
Means announced Saturday via his personal Twitter account that he will undergo Tommy John surgery.
Means revealed that he underwent multiple MRIs on his injured left arm, and it was ultimately decided that he would go under the knife. A timeline for Means' return could be revealed post-procedure, but his 2022 campaign will come to an early end, and his recovery will likely extend into next season.
Means (elbow) was transferred to the 60-day injured list Sunday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
Means landed on the 10-day IL on Friday with a sprained left elbow, and he'll now be sidelined for at least two months after shifting to the 60-day IL. The 28-year-old remains without an official recovery timeline, as manager Brandon Hyde said Saturday that the lefty is "not going to be on a mound for a while."
