Baltimore Orioles pitching depth tested with John Means, Tyler Wells out for the season
BALTIMORE - The Baltimore Orioles have lost two pitchers for the rest of the season.
John Means and Tyler Wells will need elbow surgery, Orioles General Manager Mike Elias said before Friday's game against the Tampa Bay Rays.
"It's really disappointing," manager Brandon Hyde said. "Two guys you really pull for. We were hoping for better news."
Means missed all of the 2023 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. He will miss another season with an ulnar collateral ligament.
He pitched four games this season, 20.2 innings, and posted a 2-0 record with a 2.61 earned run average.
Means has a career 23-26 record with the Orioles and a 3.68 ERA.
Wells, the 6-foot-8 relief and starting pitcher, also injured his UCL.
He had three starts this season with a 5.87 ERA.
In 2023, Wells pitched in 25 games, posting a 7-6 record with a 3.64 ERA and one save.
The Orioles are also without starting pitcher Dean Kremer who is on the 15-day injured list with a right tricep strain.
Albert Suarez is scheduled to start Friday against Tampa, followed by Kyle Bradish and Cole Irvin.
"I think we're keeping all options open right now," Hyde said. "You forecast what you hope the next three weeks is going to look like, but stuff like this happens."
The Orioles' farm system has been loaded with top prospects, but most of them are position players. Left-hander Cade Povich was 5-1 with a 2.35 ERA for Triple-A Norfolk entering his start Friday.
"Cade is definitely a guy who's on the tip of our tongues right now. He's having a tremendous season in Triple-A," Elias said. "We're watching every little thing he does. As we enter this stretch now, with all of these games coming up, with no off days, we've had internal dialogue about six-mans for stretches and things like that. He's put himself in position for that type of consideration."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
