Orioles general manager Mike Elias announced today that both left-hander John Means and right-hander Tyler Wells will undergo elbow surgery for ulnar collateral ligament repair.
It’s unclear whether either will have full Tommy John surgery or the internal brace alternative.
Both players will miss the remainder of the season.
Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com shared the news on X.
This is a significant blow to Baltimore’s rotation.
The news is especially tough for Means, who was just returning from a lengthy Tommy John recovery. Means, a 2019 All-Star, had surgery in April 2022, missing most of that season and the majority of the next.
He made a brief return in late 2023 but experienced renewed elbow soreness, causing him to miss the playoffs.
The Orioles cautiously managed his return in 2024, starting him on the injured list and reinstating him in May.
However, after four starts, he returned to the IL with a left forearm strain.
Means now faces another extended rehab period, likely sidelining him for much of 2025 as well.
From 2019 to 2021, Means was a bright spot for the Orioles, posting a 3.73 ERA over 345 1/3 innings.
Due to his elbow issues, he has only pitched 52 1/3 innings over the past three seasons.
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This surgery could also end his tenure with the Orioles as he will be a free agent this winter, entering the market with an uncertain health outlook at age 32.
The Orioles might negotiate a new contract to cover his rehab if both parties are interested, but Means could also choose to rehabilitate and showcase himself to other teams.
Wells, 29, has been on the injured list since mid-April with elbow inflammation.
The team’s non-surgical treatments were unsuccessful, leading to the decision for surgery.
Since 2021, Wells has posted a 4.06 ERA for the Orioles, working both as a starter and a reliever.
He reached arbitration this offseason as a Super Two player and is earning $1.9625 million.
Despite being eligible for arbitration again, his long absence could limit his raise potential, and the Orioles might consider non-tendering him.
Wells, however, remains under team control through 2027 and retains option ability.
