The Baltimore Orioles faced a double setback on Friday when two of their starting pitchers were ruled out for the remainder of the season due to injuries.
General Manager Mike Elias disclosed that both John Means and Tyler Wells will require season-ending elbow surgeries soon, as reported by Roch Kubatko of MASN. These surgeries are expected to have a prolonged recovery period, possibly extending beyond the beginning of the 2025 season.
This setback is particularly harsh for Means, who has struggled with injuries since the end of the 2021 season. After undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2022 and battling back issues in 2023, he faced further setbacks with forearm issues at the start of the 2024 season, limiting him to just four starts before being sidelined again.
It’s likely that the Orioles will explore options to bolster their pitching staff before the trade deadline. While Corbin Burnes, Grayson Rodriguez, Cole Irvin, and Kyle Bradish have performed adequately when called upon, additional experience and depth may be sought after. However, this could pose a challenge for a team already in need of assistance in other areas.
