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Few in baseball have lived the highs that pitching in the major leagues can grant more than John Means. Even fewer have experienced the lows. Means was an All-Star in 2019.

He entered the history books in 2021 when he pitched the sixth no-hitter in Orioles history . He took part in two clubhouse celebrations in 2023. But a promising career was temporarily paused because of a torn elbow ligament, requiring Tommy John elbow reconstruction surgery in 2021.



His return was delayed because of multiple setbacks. And now he’s facing the same arduous road back after going under the knife again for the same procedure . Speaking with the media for the first time since his surgery June 3, Means said “baseball is beautiful and horrifying at the same time.

” And perhaps no one can attest to that more than Means. But the 31-year-old left-hander isn’t going to give up now, hoping the revision surgery can fix his ulnar collateral ligament for good — “get it right this time,” he said — and return him back to the pitcher he was when he was Baltimore’s ace during the rebuild. “No, I was going to get the second one no matter what,” Means said when asked if he considered retiring.

“I still want to pitch, honestly. I would like to fail on the field before I give it up. I feel like if I go out there, I can still pitch.

I still feel really confident in my ability, just got to hope the elbow can keep up.” The stats back up Means’ belief in himself. He owns a career 3.

68 ERA .

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