Means building up for 1st 'regular' Spring Training since '22

BALTIMORE -- John Means participated in several events during this week’s Birdland Caravan, the Orioles’ annual offseason trek across Maryland to connect with local communities. But the 30-year-old left-hander didn’t exactly receive a warm welcome from his teammates upon his Thursday arrival.

Means was booed by fellow southpaw Danny Coulombe. He’ll be receiving some heated texts from Grayson Rodriguez throughout the weekend.

Typically, they’re all on the same side. But this week, that isn’t the case because of the NFL playoffs, which will feature an AFC Championship Game pitting the Chiefs against the Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore on Sunday.

Means, a native of Olathe, Kan., is a lifelong Chiefs fan. Many Orioles players -- including Coulombe and Rodriguez -- have adopted the hometown Ravens since coming to Baltimore.

“It should be a good game. I hope both teams have fun,” Means said with a grin.

In translation: Means didn’t want to disappoint his fans, many of whom don orange in the summer and purple in the winter. But he doesn’t want to see the Ravens punch a ticket to Super Bowl LVIII. He’s heading home, where he plans to sit in his lucky spot on the couch while wearing red and white and rooting for the Chiefs to take down the AFC’s top seed.

“I can’t wait for it,” Means said.

By the time Means reports to Sarasota, Fla., for Spring Training on Feb. 14, football season will be over. Sure, there could be more playful jabs between him and some teammates regarding how the NFL campaign concludes. But it will also be time for baseball season.

When it comes to that, they’re all in agreement: The Orioles appear poised for more success in 2024, and Means should be a big part of it.

At this time last year, Means was still recovering from the Tommy John surgery he underwent in April 2022. He spent plenty of time at the Ed Smith Stadium complex, but he knew he was going to miss a large chunk of the ‘23 season.

This year, Means is fully healthy and ready to go, and both he and his teammates couldn’t be happier about it.

“I’m just excited to have a regular Spring Training and feel good and just build up normally,” Means said. “Just looking forward to it, to be honest.”

Added Rodriguez: “He’s a great guy, a great leader. Having him in the clubhouse for a full season is going to be special.”

A 2019 All-Star and Baltimore’s best pitcher when the club was struggling from '19-21, Means returned to the big leagues last September and posted a 2.66 ERA in four starts. He went at least five innings and allowed three or fewer runs in each of those outings.

Means, who threw the sixth no-hitter in O’s history in 2021, also proved he can still be dominant when at his best. On Sept. 23 at Cleveland, he took a no-no into the seventh in a 7 1/3-inning gem in which he allowed only one run on one hit.

“I had confidence in what could happen, but I’d be lying to you if I didn’t want to see it happen, too,” Means said of his return. “You spend that much time off the field that you just sometimes question, you’re not really sure what’s going to happen. But to see the results was good for me mentally, for sure.”

However, Means again had to watch from the dugout when the postseason arrived. He experienced tightness in his surgically repaired left elbow prior to the American League Division Series and was sidelined as Baltimore got swept by Texas in three games.

“It was tough, for sure,” said Means, who hasn’t had any elbow issues since. “I didn’t want to, but I think it was the smarter path for me to. Obviously, mentally, it’s been tough over the past couple of years, but that was probably the toughest.”

Although the Orioles are still trying to acquire a proven starter this offseason, they have four returning pitchers who should be locked into their rotation -- Kyle Bradish, Rodriguez, Dean Kremer and Means.

Unlike last year, Baltimore knows it should be able to count on a heavy workload from Means, who is confident he can get close to (or exceed) his career high of 155 innings (2019). If so, he’ll likely provide a boost to a rotation that could use one.

“We’ve missed him,” manager Brandon Hyde said, “and to have him back is going to be huge.”

Hyde will surely enjoy sending Means to the mound every fifth day. But this weekend? The two may not exactly see eye to eye.

The Orioles’ skipper is set to attend Sunday’s AFC Championship Game -- and he’ll be cheering on the Ravens.