The Baltimore Orioles have few high-level players to guide them as they look to rebuild into a playoff team again. One of them, left-handed pitcher John Means, will be sidelined for a long time.
Means announced on Twitter that he will have to undergo Tommy John surgery. The 28-year-old ace's absence will be felt by the Orioles this season and possibly a big chunk of next season.
— John Means (@JMeans25) April 23, 2022
Means has been one of Baltimore's very best players since his arrival to the big leagues in 2018. Although he only pitched in 3.1 innings that season, he has been consistently good since 2019. He posted an ERA below four in the 2019 and 2021 seasons, leading the team with 3.60 and 3.62 respectively. In two starts and 8.0 inning this season, he posted a 3.38 ERA with seven strikeouts.
Orioles pitcher Brandon Hyde said last week that he didn't expect Means to be back any time soon. Now, the worst is upon the 2019 All-Star. The road to recovery ahead of him will be very long.
Last season, Means was the only starter on the Orioles to post an ERA below five. In terms of all pitchers that recorded multiple innings pitched in 2021, only Cole Sulser (a reliever) and Chris Ellis (who started six games) had a better ERA than him. He had a major burden to carry but now leaves a starting pitching staff that is in very good shape so far.
This season, the Orioles are 5-9. Means' injury will make it much harder to get out of last place in the stacked American League East.
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