Means on improved Orioles: "You can feel that there’s a change coming"

John Means has always wanted to visit Wrigley Field, and his chance finally arrives next week for the Orioles’ short series against the Cubs.

Means never imagined that he’d be injured and done pitching for the entire summer, but he’ll make the most of it.

“Those were games I circled on the list to try to make it to,” he said.

The left-hander came back to Camden Yards for the current homestand and will join them on the charter to Chicago. He can hop on a flight back to his Texas home while the Orioles continue their road trip in St. Petersburg.

The activity at home beyond chasing his son McCoy is limited to workouts in the weight room that don’t put a strain on his surgically repaired left elbow.

“It’s shoulders twice a week, forearms twice a week and then one of the days is mobility and core and all that stuff,” he said. “It’s a lot of monotonous stuff, but it’s important, and my body’s feeling great, honestly.”

Dr. Keith Meister performed the surgery on Means’ elbow on April 27 in Arlington, Texas, removing a tendon from the pitcher’s right leg and wrapping it around the ligament – a procedure often done when there isn’t a complete tear.

“It feels great,” Means said. “There’s been no setbacks or anything like that. It’s been perfect. Every time I go in, they’re like, ‘It looks as good as it can possibly look.’”

Including the small scar that isn’t nearly as noticeable as the usual gnarled post-surgery markings.

It’s become a topic of conversation in the clubhouse. Guys approach him to take a look at it and marvel at its subtlety.  

“Everybody’s obsessed with the scar,” Means said. “It’s like a perfect little line. Meister is a master of the scars.”

The distance between Means and his surgery, and the positive follow-up examinations, can’t create an exact timeline for his return in 2023. Whether opening day is even the slightest of possibilities. If May is a more realistic goal.

“Honestly, I haven’t even looked that far ahead,” he said. “I just kind of go day-by-day and follow the schedule that they’ve given me.”

An already suspect rotation was supposed to crumble without Means, but the starters have produced a 2.21 ERA in 17 games since June 19, with veteran Jordan Lyles keeping them rolling last night with only one run charged to him in six-plus. They’ve surrendered more than two earned runs in just three of 17 games.

A starter has surrendered one run or fewer in 15 of 20 games.

“It’s so cool to see,” Means said.

“These guys are putting in the work, they’re buying into what we’re doing here. I think the whole dynamic, the whole team together is working well, and you can tell, you can feel it. You can feel that there’s a change coming. And the starters, they picked up their end, too.”

Tyler Wells went from Rule 5 reliever to the most dependable starter on the club. He’s won seven games and posted a 3.09 ERA and 1.004 WHIP in 16 outings. The closer for much of 2021 has become the stopper.

“He’s doing absolutely great,” Means said. “We’ve talked in spring training, we’ve talked about what he needs to do. But the kid knows what he needs to do. He’s very willing to learn, which is something that is tough for a guy that only has one year in the big leagues. But he’s constantly willing to learn, he constantly is studying the game, he’s constantly trying to get better. He’s not going up there and just seeing what happens. He’s going up there and studying and doing his job.

“It’s really cool to see him go deep in games with a pitch count. I mean, it’s crazy how much he’s attacking the zone. It can go one way or the other with a guy on a pitch count or an innings limit. You can either go out there and try to strike out everybody and go three or four innings, or you could attack the zone and try to go six with not trying to strike out the world. It’s very mature of him to be able to go out there and try to go deep.”

There’s a popular belief in the clubhouse and in some sections of the industry that the Orioles are turning the corner in their rebuild. With the talent they’ve accumulated at the major league level, including the promotion of top prospect Adley Rutschman, and the prospects who are on deck.

“We were playing well before Adley, but when Adley came up, it wasn’t just his talent that made a difference. It was, ‘Oh, now it’s time to win. He’s called up, this is the starting point. Here we go,’” Means said.

“I think it just subconsciously flipped for everybody, like, we’re doing it now.”

Means watches as many games as he can at home, and he sees the importance of having a veteran catching mentor like Robinson Chirinos working with and counseling Rutschman.

“Ultimate leader,” Means said of Chirinos.

“It’s all about getting those reps in, and Adley is getting plenty, and he looks great back there. He’s doing everything well, and you can tell he’s getting more and more comfortable.”

Manager Brandon Hyde is glad that Means is with the team again, able to be close to everyone, including Rutschman, and joining them in Chicago. A short stay is better than none.

“He’s very popular in our clubhouse,” Hyde said. “It was nice to see him a couple days ago when he got here, and he seems in great spirits. It sounds like the rehab’s going well, and always happy to have Meansie here.”