The Baltimore Orioles have performed well in 2024, sitting just two games behind the New York Yankees for first place in the American League East as of this story's writing. Baltimore, however, was dealt a pair of devastating injury updates on Friday.
The team reportedly announced that starting pitchers John Means and Tyler Wells will both undergo Tommy John surgery, per Bob Nightengale of USA Today. The O's still project to feature enough talent to compete, but losing two pitchers for extended periods of time is far from ideal to say the least.
Perhaps Baltimore will look to make a trade following this news. Either way, both pitchers will be missed.
John Means was once considered Orioles ace of the future
The Orioles were rebuilding just a few years ago and John Means looked like the future ace of the team. He finished second in American League Rookie of the Year voting in 2019, and was also selected to the AL All-Star team that season. Means finished the year with a respectable 3.60 ERA across 155 innings pitched.
He struggled in 2020. However, 2020 was a shortened campaign and a number of usually talented players took a while to find their rhythm. The O's still believed in the left-handed starter.
Sure enough, Means bounced back with a 3.62 ERA in 2021. Injuries, though, have limited him to 10 total starts from 2022-2024. It's especially unfortunate since Means pitched to a stellar 2.61 ERA in four starts in 2024.
At 31 years old, it is uncertain what the future holds for Means. He is set to enter free agency after the season. Teams will likely be hesitant to sign Means since he will miss at least part of the 2025 campaign.
One can only wonder how Means may have performed over the past few years if injuries did not stand in his way. Regardless of which team he pitches for once he returns, fans are hoping that he can stay healthy and perform well.
Tyler Wells has displayed signs of potential
Tyler Wells is under team control through 2027. The 29-year-old may still factor into the Orioles' long-term plans.
Wells has pitched for the O's since 2021. He has displayed signs of potential during that span. His best season was in 2023 when he pitched to a quality 3.64 ERA in 25 games (20 starts).
Wells does not necessarily feature elite pitches but he's capable of keeping hitters off balance and inducing weak contact. He's a reliable middle-of-the-rotation hurler.
Baltimore has searched for pitching depth over the years. There is no question that Wells' presence in the rotation will be missed. He had struggled in 2024, but depth is always crucial nonetheless.
Orioles' pitching rotation
Corbin Burnes will continue to lead Baltimore's rotation. He's been terrific so far in 2024.
Kyle Bradish, Grayson Rodriguez, Cole Irvin, and Albert Rodriguez are other rotation options. They have all performed well so far during the '24 campaign.
Still, it would not be surprising to see Baltimore attempt to acquire at least one more starting pitcher before the trade deadline in July. Adding another proven arm behind Burnes would give the Orioles an extra element of stability for a postseason run.
In the end, the O's should be able to stay afloat despite these injury updates.
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