Means named Opening Day starter for O’s
A near formality when the first edition of spring training began almost five months ago became official Friday, when Orioles manager Brandon Hyde named All-Star left-hander John Means the club’s Opening Day starter for the July 24 matchup with the Boston Red Sox.
Means, 27, finished second in American League Rookie of the Year voting in 2019, posting a 3.60 ERA across 31 appearances. Heopened the year in Baltimore’s bullpen, a surprise member of that season’s Opening Day roster, before pitching his way into the Orioles’ rotation and eventually into the All-Star Game.
“For a guy to do what he did, it’s a great story, coming out of spring training barely making the club and having some really impressive relief appearances,” Hyde said. “Next thing you know, he’s in our rotation and making an All-Star game. Really finished the season strong, too. He’s definitely earned it.”
An 11th-round pick in 2014 out of West Virginia, Means was never considered to be among the Orioles’ top score of prospects. Believing he had topped out in Double-A in 2018, he contemplated retirement, making himself a LinkedIn page to prepare for life after baseball. But a promotion to Triple-A Norfolk eventually led to a September call-up when the Orioles ran low on pitching. He made his major league debut as a reliever at Fenway Park, where in two weeks he will serve as Baltimore’s Opening Day starter.
Hyde said Means will likely also start one of the Orioles’ three preseason exhibitions, lined up for July 19’s game against the Philadelphia Phillies. He said there is “a really good chance” that veteran right-hander Alex Cobb will directly follow Means in the rotation, though the next two weeks before the season will help determine the official order.
For Means, the honor represents more affirmation of the offseason work he put in ahead of the 2019 season, repeatedly driving across the state of Missouri from Kansas City to go to P3 Premier Pitching & Performance in St. Louis. Fine-tuning his changeup with Chris Holt, now the Orioles’ director of pitching, that spring turned the pitch into a weapon that tore through the NewYork Yankees’ lineup in a relief appearance on Opening Day. He posted a 2.50 ERA in the first half, earning the Orioles’ lone All-Star nod.
When Hyde called him into the manager’s office to inform him of that selection, Means thought there was simply a tweak in the rotation order. Friday’s decision was not as surprising, with Means casually smiling in response.
“I’m assuming that he was kind of assuming that he was going to be the starter anyways,” Hyde said with a chuckle. “It’s kind of how we lined it up. I think hearing it from me, it was good to see his face light up, and I know as we get closer to that day, it’s gonna become really special. It’s always a good feeling to tell somebody good news.”
Shortstop José Iglesias said the back issue that limited him for a couple of days this week is “much better.” … Left-hander Ty Blach, who was pulled from the Orioles’ intrasquad game Thursday while warming up for a second inning, had elbow soreness and is being reevaluated, Hyde said.