Means threw changeups in latest bullpen session and aims for early September return

John Means has adjusted his target return date to Sept. 1, hoping that he’s experienced the last of his setbacks following Tommy John surgery.

The elbow is fine, but Means sustained a strain in his left teres major, a muscle in the scapula/upper back region, while participating in non-throwing activation drills in May during his rehab program.

The Orioles used to view Means as a potential in-house trade deadline acquisition, but the strain eliminated July as a possibility for reinstatement from the 60-day injured list.

Means threw his third bullpen session yesterday, mixing in his changeup for the first time. The other two were strictly fastballs.

“I should do a couple of these and a couple with all the pitches,” Means said, “and then should be back throwing to hitters pretty quickly.”

Means could throw live batting practice or in a simulated game before heading out on a rehab assignment. He wants to rejoin the Orioles by the beginning of September, when rosters expand to 28 players.

In time to perhaps make an impact in the stretch run, as the Orioles attempt to qualify for the playoffs for the first time since 2016.

“I’ll be the freshest arm out there,” he said. “That’s the goal.”

Being in the early stages of mound sessions and with a lengthy rehab assignment awaiting, Means would have been challenged to pitch in August and to reenter the rotation.

Too many weeks remain to know how the Orioles would use Means. He made four relief appearances as a rookie in 2019 and has worked exclusively as a starter since April 24 of that season.

“Just kind of depends on what we need,” said Means, who stood on the field yesterday and chatted with former Orioles reliever Evan Phillips. “I just want to be back and throwing, honestly. Hoping to start, obviously, just because that’s what I’m used to, but with this team doing well, who knows?”

Means has stayed close to the Orioles since they shut him down again, dressing at his locker and making road trips. The victories soothe rather than poke at him.

“I couldn’t be happier for the guys in here,” he said. “It obviously sucks to not be exactly playing and being a part of it on the field, and my motivation every day is to try to get back out there and play for a winning club.”

* The most recent update on reliever Dillon Tate was his relocation to the minor league complex in Sarasota. The club hadn’t cleared him to begin playing catch.

Tate sought a second opinion on his right elbow prior to leaving Baltimore, and he no longer has a locker in the clubhouse.

Grayson Rodriguez has displaced Tate by moving into the row after the Orioles recalled him Monday. Keegan Akin, Mychal Givens and Austin Voth still have nameplates above their lockers.

Voth is in the Florida Complex League on a rehab assignment. His start yesterday was rained out.

Akin and Givens also are in Sarasota. Akin began playing catch and Givens was throwing side sessions.

Outfielder Ryan McKenna also has his locker despite the Orioles optioning him to Triple-A Norfolk.

* Anthony Santander’s double last night in the eighth inning was his 25^th of the season to set a career high. He finished the past two years with 24.

Santander extended his on-base streak to 15 games and is batting .321/.438/.585 (17-for-53) during that stretch.

Jordan Westburg snapped an 0-for-13 skid with a single in the fifth inning, and he singled again in the ninth for his fifth career multi-hit performance.

Mike Baumann struck out the side in the ninth inning for the first time in his career.

Cole Irvin’s four innings of relief were a career high.