LHP John Means tore Achilles ahead of signing with new club

Field Level Media
19 Dec 2025, 08:35 GMT+10

(Photo credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images)

Veteran left-handed pitcher John Means revealed Thursday that he underwent surgery to repair a ruptured Achilles tendon.

In an Instagram post, Means said he was on the verge of signing with a new club Tuesday when the injury happened in training. Means missed all of last season because of Tommy John surgery, his second, in June 2024.

'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,' Means wrote.

Means had his surgery Wednesday.

'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 wrote.

Means, 32, spent seven years with the Baltimore Orioles but was limited to two starts in 2022, four in 2023 and four in 2024 due to his elbow surgeries.

He joined the Cleveland Guardians' organization in 2025 and made seven rehab starts in the minor leagues in August and September. The Guardians declined his $6 million option, which sent him into free agency.

Means, who made his MLB debut in 2018, owns a 23-26 record with a 3.68 ERA in 78 career games (73 starts) in the bigs. The highlight of his career was a no-hitter against the Seattle Mariners on May 5, 2021, in which the only runner to reach base did so on a third-strike wild pitch.

--Field Level Media

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