John Means last threw on a Major League mound in May of 2024 with the Baltimore Orioles.
The 32-year-old left-hander signed a $1 million contract with the Cleveland Guardians for 2025, but never appeared for the Major League club.
Already, Means has undergone two Tommy John surgeries in the last four years, significantly impacting his ability to make an impact on the field. Means announced on his personal Instagram page on Tuesday that he ruptured his Achilles during an offseason workout.
“This is hard to put into words, but I’ll try,” Means said on Instagram. “On Tuesday, while training, I ruptured my Achilles. It happened the same day I was supposed to sign with a team and be available on Opening Day for the first time in a long time. … I was finally enjoying my first healthy offseason in four years and felt better than ever. I don’t know why this happened or how this chapter will ultimately be used, but I know it’s now part of my story and God has a plan.”
Means became an All-Star in Baltimore
Originally selected in the 11th round of the 2014 MLB Draft by the Orioles, Means made his debut in 2018.
He became the ace of Baltimore's rotation in 2019 and earned his first All-Star selection, winning 12 games with a dreadful 54-108 club. Means threw a no-hitter against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park and struck out 12 batters.
Injuries have limited Means to 51.4 innings since the start of the 2022 season, and his Achilles injury is another setback.
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