BALTIMORE—Orioles left-hander John Means has thrown three rehab starts for Triple-A Norfolk, and though he has a 12.86 earned-run average, executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias said he likes what he’s hearing about Means, who is on the 15-day injured list with a strained left forearm.
“We’re trucking along. He’s going to pitch again in Norfolk in the middle of next week,” Elias said.
Means’ first rehab start on March 31st was rough. He allowed seven runs on six hits, walking one and striking out two. In his second start, Means allowed a run on a hit, striking out four and walking one on April 6th. His most recent start was on Thursday, and he again pitched three innings, giving up two runs on two hits, striking out three and walking two. He threw 61 pitches.
After his April 2022 Tommy John surgery, Means started four times but was not placed on the Orioles roster for the Division Series against Texas because his elbow was sore. When spring training began on February 14th, Elias said that Means would be about a month behind the other starters.
“I don’t want to paint myself in with a date or anything like that, but suffice to say that we’re looking at a springtime activation with him, hopefully,” Elias said. “It’s this month or next kind of thing is how things are trending. I don’t think it will be too deep into May if it does go into May.”
Means’ rehab assignment can last 30 days. I the Orioles used the entire month, he could start in early May.
Right-handed starter Kyle Bradish, whose first rehab start on Thursday for High-A Aberdeen was delayed because of an inclement weather forecast, threw a bullpen session on Saturday.
Bradish is on the injured list with a sprain of the right ulnar collateral ligament, an injury that Elias announced along with Means’ setback.
“I haven’t heard how the bullpen went, yet. It just happened,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “He’s scheduled to pitch the middle of next week, so five or so days from now.”
Bradish’s start is likely to be for Double-A Bowie. The Baysox are home next week. If he starts next week, and the Orioles use the entire 30 days for him, his return to the Orioles could come in mid-May.