The Orioles are sending left-hander John Means on a minor league rehab stint on Thursday, tweets Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com. He’ll take the ball for their Double-A club in Bowie.
It’ll be Means’ first game action since he underwent Tommy John surgery last April. The 16-month recovery timetable is towards the longer end of the typical TJS rehab, in part due to a back strain Means suffered this past May. The rehab outings represent his final steps as he builds back to MLB readiness. Pitchers are typically allotted 30 days on a stint, though players working back from Tommy John procedures can get a longer window with league approval.
If all goes well, it stands to reason Means will be back on the Camden Yards mound sometime next month. The 2019 All-Star will get to pitch in a pennant race for the first time in his career. After tonight’s dramatic loss at the hands of the Astros, Baltimore holds a two-game lead on Tampa Bay in the AL East.
A few other health situations around the game:
- The Angels placed shortstop Zach Neto on the 10-day injured list on Friday due to lower back inflammation. A specific recovery timetable is unclear, though he’ll be out well past the minimal stay. Manager Phil Nevin informed reporters (including Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com) that Neto will be out for several weeks after recent imaging revealed increased inflammation. The club still expects the rookie infielder back before season’s end, but it’s another hurdle for a team that has been floundering since the deadline. Luis Rengifo has kicked over to shortstop with Neto out while Brandon Drury handles second base.
- Dodgers reliever Blake Treinen has missed the entire season after undergoing shoulder surgery last November. The club announced a rough 10-month recovery timetable at the time of the operation. Almost exactly 10 months out, Treinen has yet to begin a rehab assignment. The veteran right-hander has been throwing bullpen sessions, however, and he told reporters this afternoon he remains hopeful of getting back to the majors this year (relayed by Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times). Treinen has barely pitched over the last two seasons because of shoulder woes but had a 1.99 ERA over 72 1/3 frames in 2021. The Dodgers hold an option for next year valued somewhere between $1MM and $7MM depending on his health status.
- Rangers All-Star backstop Jonah Heim took batting practice and caught a bullpen session this afternoon, writes Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News. It’s his first cage work since tearing a tendon sheath in his left wrist two weeks ago. The Rangers expressed initial concern that Heim would require season-ending surgery, though it seems he’ll be able to play through the discomfort (likely before an offseason surgery). Grant notes that Heim — normally a switch-hitter — may have to swing solely from the left side for the time being, as the wrist is in more pain when he hits right-handed. Heim has been excellent from both sides of the dish this season, and Texas has righty-swinging catchers Mitch Garver and Austin Hedges as their duo with Heim out. Even if skipper Bruce Bochy wanted to limit Heim’s looks against left-handed pitching, Garver — a career .272/.366/.523 hitter against southpaws — should be well equipped to step in.
I didn’t know about the Kevin Brown thing. Tbh, I was wondering how the former pitcher came up in the news until I read the story. There has to be way more to it than that, but it does seem unacceptable to fire a guy for pointing out facts about performance.
Apparently John Angelos hasn’t paid attention over all of the years. Since the Rays inception in 1998 the Orioles are 214-234, 20 games under .500 against the Rays. They are 16-31 against them since the start of the 2021 season and haven’t won a season series against them since 2016 (they lead the season series 6-3 with 4 games left to play this season). That’s not at all a negative criticism, but fact, no matter how Angelos wants to spin it.
That doesn’t mean jack in a playoff game.
There has to be more to the story. I heard the sound bite and there was nothing negative or demeaning.
We’ll finally some truth on the injury front. Even thou bad news with Neto, at least the Angels didn’t beat around bush finally this time. This isn’t a contact sport where u need to hide these things. As fans, we like to know.
Yes, a rare moment of clarity from the Angels PR department.
DGT continues to be so stupid. Kevin Brown wasn’t fired.
Man Bautista finally blew one. Didn’t have it tonight.
Hopefully Means is back in form. The young guys are entering unchartered territories in the rotation.
Bstrowman9;
All a part of a young organization taking the next step to being a perennial contender.
Thought that Kyle Tucker’s AB was remarkable.
As for Means – a poster made a comment I hadn’t thought of (was it you?) – that Means would be used out of the bullpen this year. It’s possible. He could join Danny Coulombe and Cole Irvin as lefties out of the pen. I think the issue will be which O’s pitchers are more tired and need some relief (no pun intended) – the starters or relievers. I’ve been concerned about the over-use/over-dependence on Cano and Bautista this year. They’re getting up there in innings, and if they make the playoffs and go deep in them those guys may be too burned out to be effective.
Nevertheless, I expected the O’s to make the playoffs this year. But I didn’t expect them to have the record they do at this point. A 2nd year in a row of exceeding expectations. This is truly a special organization (and Jackson Holiday is at his 3rd MiLB level this year, tearing it up in AA – combined line in 2023: .342 / .464 / .543 / 1.007! 19 years-old. Could well be up with the O’s at some point in 2024).
P.S.
Fujinami’s last appearance was overpowering. Have the coaches got him recalibrated?
The guys fastball was the same as Bautista’s – constantly throwing between 98-102 mph, spotting it on the corners and up-and-down. His slit-finger #2 pitch is not in line with Bautista’s though (whose is?).
If Fuji can stay consistent he can take some of the load off of Cano and Bautista going into the playoffs….which in turn may free up Irvin or Means for some spot starts or to pitch in long relief….taking some of the load off the starters.
What’s your point Fujinami was throwing 100mph in Oakland too??
Fuji has a brain problem. His performance against the Jays last week was nothing short of atrocious. Nuke Laloosh type stuff. I guess if he can breathe through his eyelids he’ll be fine.
kmk1986 & its_happening;
You guys need to keep up…
1. Yes, Fuji threw hard in Oakland but was wild and then grooved pitches (Jose Alvarado did the same thing pitching in relief for the Rays; then a year with the Phillies till the Phillies staff straightened him out – now he’s one of the best set-up men in MLB).
2. The O’s coaches have built a rep for reworking pitchers – particularly bullpen pitchers. Lopez, Bautista and Cano were rejects when the O’s got them.
3. Reworking a pitchers delivery can take a bit of time. And it may fail – that they’ll know fairly quickly. Yes, Fugi had some bad outings when he came to the O’s as the staff was working with him (MLB is not computer baseball where you reprogram something….MLB is human beings).
4. In Fugi’s last appearance against the Mets he K’ed 2 out of 3 batters and was overpowering.
5. In Fuji’s last 5 appearances (2 vs. Mets, 1 vs. Jays, 2 vs. Yankees) he pitched 5 innings, gave up one run, 2 hits, 3 W’s and K’ed 6. He hasn’t walked a batter in his last 2 appearances.
I’m not saying he’s fixed, but he may well be close to it. And if so, that gives the O’s another big arm in the bullpen.
Samuel, it’s a good gamble. He has a rocket arm. 5 cent head. Let’s be honest with who he is. Can he be great? Yes. Could the O’s turn him around? Sure. But let’s keep a proper perspective on who he is, what he’s done and speculate on what he might be.
Yep, I thought about Means out of the pen. I mean obviously if he’s able to build himself up and be an effective starter—that’s even better. But a lot to ask for a guy coming off TJ so late in the year. I figured it’s easier for him to get prepped for a pen role.
Jackson is a stud. His hit tool is fantastic and I’m certain he’ll develop some pop. The funny thing is. We still could’ve won that game. Mullins probably catches that ball Mateo drops. If McCann holds onto the foul tip—game could’ve been completely different.
It would make sense to have Means work out of the pen at least to start if he does return, say, last week of Aug/first of September. Certainly he’ll be on a pretty tight pitch count for some time. The Orioles can use the help either way.
But coming off an injury like that anything he provides the team in 2023 is a bonus.
Karma hitting the Os. Way to ruin a season mr Angelos
Let’s not blow up after a 2 game skid. Stros are pretty good and we blew one last night. It’s a young team—this is gonna happen.
Blake who? Honestly it’s getting hard to remember what he looks like.
Ha ha. Such desperate trolling.
Treinen has hardly been seen in two years. So this needs to be explained to you?
I was waiting for some Jang Hyeon-seok news… nothing!?! At least I got the same amount of news about Treinen.
No need to rush Neto back….yes we need him this season but we need him more for future seasons and not have these injuries linger on. The kid can play and is an important position we have had a black hole in for a long time since Aybar left. With Neto, Moniak and O’Hoppe stepping in the future is bright for once at SS, OF and catcher. Let the kids play!
A 22 year old with a bad back. Does anyone think this is not going to be a problem foe the next 10 years.