GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- As John Means considered his options in free agency this past winter, one reason Cleveland was an attractive destination was because it resonated with him on a uniquely personal level.
“They've had a couple other guys in my situation,” said Means, whom the Guardians signed to a one-year deal with a club option for 2026 on Feb. 19.
Means hit the open market for the first time in his career in November, five months after he underwent Tommy John surgery in June. It was the second time in three years he underwent the procedure (also April 2022), both of which came during his time with the Orioles.
With the timing of last season’s surgery, Means knew heading into free agency he would be recovering to start the 2025 season. Cleveland has some recent experience working with pitchers recovering from Tommy John and guiding their return to the mound, and could perhaps be instructive to Means’ recovery as he aims to return this summer.
The Guardians signed Matthew Boyd on June 29 last season, about one year after he underwent Tommy John. He returned to pitch in August and was a productive starter down the stretch (2.72 ERA, eight starts) and in the playoffs (0.77 ERA, three starts). Ace Shane Bieber underwent Tommy John last April, re-signed with Cleveland on Dec. 11 and has thrown six bullpen sessions this spring as he continues his recovery.
Means has been throwing for about two months and is currently throwing at 90 feet three times per week. He said he’s feeling “great.”
“There’s just a great reputation [with] the rehab and the training staff [of Cleveland],” Means said. “In my situation, it was good to come here -- especially down here in Arizona. They’re gonna have quite a few PTs and all the resources. That was pretty important to me.”
Means, 31, had a strong start to his career with Baltimore before his career was affected by injuries. He was an All-Star in 2019 and finished second in AL Rookie of the Year voting that year. He made 10 starts in the 60-game 2020 season and 26 starts in ‘21. He has been limited to 10 starts the past three seasons due to the two elbow surgeries.
??”It’s hard to put into words, honestly. Just mentally tough,” Means said of the past few years. “This game can be that way. Five or six setbacks, so it was stuff to get through. But I think it's really helped me grow as a person and grow as a player, to kind of understand everything I feel like I've been through.
“If there's other guys that I've played with or playing with now, I think if they've been through it, I've probably also been through it too.”
With the uncertainty of his first free agency behind him, Means said it’s easier to keep the big picture in mind in his recovery process.
“Now that I'm coming in here and being around the game a lot more,” he said, “it's a lot easier to stay in tune with what I'm doing and on a routine. Just come in every day and do what I need to do to get better. And it's a lot easier when you're coming to a clubhouse.”
Worth noting
Andrew Walters -- who’s been sidelined with right shoulder stiffness -- threw in live batting practice on Wednesday, which has positioned him to return to game action this week. Manager Stephen Vogt said Walters should be back pitching in games within the next few days, assuming the right-hander has no issues coming out of the live BP.
Walters has not pitched in a Cactus League game since his Feb. 24 debut due to the shoulder issue. He threw a 25-pitch bullpen with his full arsenal on Sunday.