A family affair as Means eyes nod for O's opener

John Means was trending toward his first Opening Day start when Spring Training shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic and was likely days away from being officially tabbed for the assignment before having to head back home to Kansas. The Orioles haven’t officially bestowed the honor on Means quite yet, just one weekend into Summer Camp.

But nothing has happened to change Means’ standing in the rotation, and by completing a four-inning sim game Friday, Means would appear to be in line to start July 23 if Opening Day lands on that date.

Either way, he’s raring to go.

“I think I’m very close,” Means said. “I feel like if I had to go out there tomorrow and pitch, I could.”

Throwing 65 pitches in Friday’s sim game, Means said he completed his first session “feeling strong” and without fatigue. The lefty said he built up to five innings and 75 pitches on his own during the shutdown, mostly in live batting practice sessions with his brother Jake, a third baseman in the Royals' system. The brothers squared off “probably 300 times” while baseball was paused on a high school field near their hometown, per Means, with the sibling rivalry fueling necessary preparation.

“That was something we had never done before,” John said. “The fence was about 250 [feet] to left field. He got me a few times, some real ones and some wall scrapers that would’ve been easy flyouts. It was something we’d never done before and got the chance to do.”

Means also at times pitched to his wife Caroline, a retired professional soccer goalie. In June, the Meanses learned Caroline was expecting their first child, a boy. It is the second family connection that could make Means’ return to the field higher risk, as his father, Alan, continues to battle pancreatic cancer. No Orioles players have opted out or elected not to play at this point, and Means did not express concern publicly in his first media session Sunday.

He expressed desire to return to the mound after going 12-11 with a 3.60 ERA last season, earning All-Star honors and finishing second in AL Rookie of the Year voting.

“With everything going on, it was nice being home with the family,” Means said. “I got to spend a lot of time I was never going to spend with my family. Both me and my brother's birthday, Father's Day, Mother's Day -- that was kind of a blessing in disguise. But at the same time, I was ready to get back to baseball. I was ready to feel like I was worth something again.”

First looks
Of the several Orioles hurlers to complete their first live batting practice sessions of Summer Camp on Sunday, right-hander Kohl Stewart opened eyes with a fastball manager Brandon Hyde reported “was sitting 94” mph and “some really good secondary stuff.” The O’s didn’t get to see too much of Stewart, who they signed to a one-year free-agent deal, this spring due to soreness in his right biceps. The fourth overall pick from the 2013 Draft is in the rotation mix, competing for a spot either as a regular fifth starter or in a swingman capacity.

“I thought it was a big step from Spring Training,” Hyde said. “I liked the way he threw the ball today a lot. We’re going to continue to give him a long look this month.”

Hair ya doin?
His mullet now grown past the lettering on the back of his jersey, Hunter Harvey took to the mound “throwing mid-to-upper-90s” on Sunday in his first Summer Camp session, per Hyde. The skipper said Harvey “looks great, feels great,” coming off his first fully healthy season in years, when he dazzled in a brief late-season debut.

“Slider looked good, split looked good,” Hyde said. “He’s in great shape. He really stayed on it these last few months.”

Going forward, Hyde acknowledged the condensed season could benefit Harvey given his extensive injury history. The Orioles were expected to at least monitor and likely manage his innings after he threw 74 2/3 last year -- his highest total since 2014. Harvey is also slated to play a key role in the back of the O's bullpen, perhaps eventually closing games.

“I don’t know how much concern we had for him this year, we were going to kind of play it by ear,” Hyde said. “Now in a shorter sprint, I’d like to use him as much as possible but not push the limits on him.”

#F16HT for Trey
Wearing the #F16HT T-shirts the Orioles are selling to promote colorectal cancer awareness during each workout of camp so far, Hyde has led the way in supporting absent slugger Trey Mancini, who continues to undergo treatment for the diagnosis. Mancini and the Orioles partnered with the Colorectal Cancer Alliance to benefit the cause, with net proceeds going to CCA’s patient and family support services.

Meanwhile, #F16HT shirts are being worn by many across Orioles camp as the O’s adjust to life without their best player.

“We’re thinking about him constantly,” Hyde said. “I am wearing the shirt as we speak and I will wear it every day. To not have him in the lineup and not have him around is something that is not easy.”

Worth noting
Alex Cobb and Mychal Givens have been participating in camp despite being absent from the public eye, Hyde said. He said both veterans had thrown side sessions and were scheduled for live BP sessions Monday. Hyde also mentioned Cobb when asked about players who may have benefited from the shutdown, as it allowed the right-hander to recover from the blister issues he endured this spring.