Free agent left-hander John Means suffered an Achilles rupture while working out this week, according to his social media. He is expected to miss the entire 2026 season
For the former Baltimore Orioles pitcher, it’s just the latest of a long string of health issues. The former All-Star has pitched in just 10 games since the start of the 2022 season.
To make matters worse for Means, he was about to sign with an unnamed team, per his social media post. That will obviously not go through now.
John Means’ History with the Baltimore Orioles
Means was an 11th-round selection in the 2014 MLB Draft out of West Virginia University by Baltimore.
In his rookie season (2019), he made his name known, pitching to a 3.60 ERA in 31 games (155 innings). He made the All-Star team and finished second in American League Rookie of the Year voting to Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez.
While Means would struggle in the COVID season to a 4.53 ERA, he had cemented himself as the Orioles’ ace and young star of the future.
In 2021, he would pitch to a 3.62 ERA in 26 games (146.2 innings). However, this was the last season before his injury struggles started.
In early 2022, he required Tommy John surgery and was out until September 2023. He would pitch to a 2.66 ERA in four starts in 2023 before being shut down due to elbow soreness. Means would subsequently miss the postseason.
This would become a common theme for Means as he would undergo a second elbow surgery after four starts in 2024, where he pitched to a 2.61 ERA.
Means has not appeared in a major league game since then. He signed with the Cleveland Guardians last offseason but did not make it past a minor league rehab assignment and was subsequently sent back to free agency.
What’s Next For Means?
With this latest injury setback, Means will not get his next opportunity to pitch until 2027.
Means has never had a strong fastball, with his average velocity being below-average even in his last healthy season, per Baseball Savant.
However, Means brings strong offspeed pitches with a good changeup and knuckle curve.
In 2021, Means was in the 96th percentile in walk rate among pitchers, thanks to his above-average offspeed offerings. With elite control, even if the velocity isn’t there, Means could be primed for a bounce-back season.
Since an unnamed team expressed interest in him, there is potential for a team to sign him to a two-year minor league contract; however, he will likely not be able to pitch until next season.
Means will be nearly 34 by the time the 2027 season rolls around. While there is hope he will be healthy by then, it will have been six years since his last full season in 2021, leading to understandable apprehension by major league teams.
Therefore, it is likely that Means will have to sign a minor league contract to prove his health before returning to the majors.
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