Married, wife's name is Caroline. The couple has a son, McCoy...His dad, Alan, passed away from pancreatic cancer in August 2020...His wife, Caroline, was a professional soccer goalie and coached at Tulsa University (Okla.). Wears No. 47 because his dad¡¯s birthday is on the fourth and his mom¡¯s is on the seventh...His younger brother Jake was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the 22nd round of the 2019 First-Year Player Draft...Participated in the 2024 and 2023 Birdland Caravans...Made a LinkedIn account in 2019 because he didn¡¯t think he would make it in baseball. Also was a substitute teacher one year during the offseason...Attended Gardner Edgerton (Kan.) HS, Fort Scott Community College (Kan.) and West Virginia University...His go-to karaoke song is "Take Me Home, Country Roads" by John Denver...Is a huge Kansas City Chiefs fan...Enjoys coffee. Had his own specialty blend at Ceremony Coffee in 2021...Does not consider himself a good cook but loves to grill and barbecue...Threw the sixth no-hitter in O's history on May 5, 2021 at Seattle...Pitched to a 3.24 ERA (51 ER/141.2 IP), 145 hits, six home runs, 40 walks and 100 strikeouts across both seasons at WVU...Named an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention and Academic All-Big 12 First Team as a junior in 2014...Began his collegiate career at Fort Scott Community College (Kan.), where he pitched to a 6-0 record and allowed 14 hits across 31.2 innings during his freshman season...Earned First Team All-Region Honors...Drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the 46th round of the 2011 First-Year Player Draft out of high school but did not sign.
2023
Went 1-2 with a 2.66 ERA (7 ER/23.2 IP) with 13 hits (four HR), four walks, one hit batter and 10 strikeouts in four starts for the O's...Began the season on the 60-day injured list (left elbow UCL surgery)...Started a rehab assignment with Double-A Bowie on 8/10 and made three starts for the Baysox before having his assignment transferred to Triple-A Norfolk for three starts on 8/25...Made his first MLB appearance in 517 days on 9/12 vs. STL. Marked his first game since leaving his start on 4/12/22 vs. MIL with left forearm tightness...Did not allow a hit in the first 20 outs on 9/23 at CLE before Andr¨¦s Gim¨¦nez hit a solo home run. Became the first O's pitcher with 6.2 no-hit innings since he no-hit the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on 5/5/21 and the first Orioles hurler to take a no-hitter into the seventh inning since Keegan Akin (6.0 IP) on 9/11/21 (G2) vs. Toronto...Retired the first 13 batters faced on 9/29 vs. Boston...Did not appear on Baltimore's ALDS roster after experiencing left elbow soreness.
2022
Made his second straight Opening Day start on 4/8 at TB; became the first Orioles pitcher to start back-to-back Opening Days since RHP Chris Tillman started three straight from 2014-16, the second lefty to do so since Dave McNally started three consecutive from 1969-71, and the fourth O's left-hander to start multiple Opening Days in team history (since 1954) along with McNally, Steve Barber (1963, 65-66) and Mike Flanagan (1978, 86)...Left his second start of the season on 4/13 vs. MIL with left forearm tightness; placed on the 10-day Injured List with a left elbow sprain on 4/14 and transferred to the 60-day Injured List with a left elbow strain on 4/17...Underwent UCL reconstruction surgery (Tommy John) on 4/27, performed by Dr. Keith Meister, and missed the rest of the season.
2021
Threw the sixth no-hitter in Orioles history in a 6-0 victory on 5/5 at T-Mobile Park against the Mariners...Was the first Orioles no-hitter since a combined effort by Bob Milacki, Mike Flanagan, Mark Williamson and Gregg Olson on 7/13/91 at OAK, and the first individual, complete-game no-hitter by an Orioles pitcher since Jim Palmer on 8/13/69 vs. OAK...It was the first 9.0 inning complete game of his career, while he became the first left-handed pitcher to throw a no-hitter in Orioles history, and his 12 strikeouts were the most by an O¡¯s hurler in a no-hitter...Became the first Kansas-born pitcher to throw a no-hitter since Walter Johnson in 1920...The only base runner reached on a dropped third strike, wild pitch, and was later caught stealing by C Pedro Severino; according to the Elias Sports Bureau, Means was the first pitcher to throw a non-perfect no-hitter in which the opposing team did not record a walk, hit-by-pitch or error...Became the second pitcher in AL history to throw a no-hitter with 12+ strikeouts and zero walks, joining F¨¦lix Hern¨¢ndez, who had a perfect game on 8/15/12..Threw 26-of-27 first-pitch strikes (96.3%), only missing on the 18th batter of the game with two outs in the sixth inning; the highest first-pitch strike percentage in a complete game since 1990..Became the only pitcher since 2000 to face at least 25 batters in a game and have a higher first-pitch strike percentage was Minnesota¡¯s Brad Radke on 6/30/04 (27-of-28, 96.4%)..Recorded 26 swinging strikes (14 via the changeup, 8 via the four-seam fastball, 3 via the slider and 1 via the curveball), the most in a game by an Orioles pitcher since pitch-tracking began in 2008..Became the first pitcher since Edinson V¨®lquez on 6/3/17 to face the minimum in a no-hitter and have it not be a perfect game; the last to do so with no walks or hit batters was Terry Mulholland on 8/15/1990..Named the American League Player of the Week on 5/10; the first Orioles winner since Trey Mancini on 9/23/19, and the first Orioles pitcher to accomplish the feat since Arthur Rhodes in August of 1994...Made his first career Opening Day start on 4/2 at Boston, becoming the 41st Opening Day starter in Orioles history...Became the first pitcher in Orioles history to work at least 7.0 innings, while giving up one hit-or-less, and not allowing a run in a start at Fenway Park...Became the 17th pitcher in Major League history, and first Oriole, to go at least 7.0 innings, while allowing one hit-or-less in a start on Opening Day; he is the third pitcher in Major League history to do so without issuing a walk, joining Irv Young (1906) and Jordan Zimmermann (2019)¡Joined Mike Mussina (5/30/97) and Jim Palmer (5/12/67) as one of three Orioles to throw at least 7.0 innings, allowing one hit-or-less, no runs and no walks in a start...Tallied a career-high 12 quality starts this season, surpassing the 11 he made in 2019...According to Baseball Reference, his 1.6 WPA led the O¡¯s, 1.0 higher than the next closest pitcher on the club...Registered a career-long 19.0 scoreless innings streak from 5/5-19...Became the 12th pitcher in Orioles history to strike out at least 200 batters in the first 48 games of their career when he struck out Mark Canha on a foul tip in the fifth frame on 4/30 at OAK...Gave up a career-high 30 home run, surpassing his total of 23 allowed in 2019; homers accounted for 45 of his 64 total runs allowed (70.3%)¡Means tallied the first extra-base hit of his career (2B) on 9/20 at PHI...It registered an exit velocity of 102.7 mph, tied for the second-hardest-hit ball by an O¡¯s pitcher in the Statcast era (since 2015) with Mike Wright, Jr. (1B) on 5/23/15, behind only a Yovani Gallardo 106.5 mph single on 6/29/16; first extra-base hit by an Orioles pitcher since Zack Britton (home run) on 7/3/11...Spent time on the 10-day Injured List with a left shoulder strain from 6/6-7/20 after being removed from his start on 6/5 vs. CLE in the first inning.
2020
Struck out seven-straight Rays batters on 9/20 vs. TB (two in the first inning, three in the second inning, two in the third inning) to match the Orioles club record for consecutive strikeouts set by Sammy Stewart in 1978...Struck out a career-high 12 batters on 9/20 vs. TB; the only Baltimore pitcher to record double-digit strikeouts in a game in 2020...Led Orioles pitchers in strikeouts (42), tied with RHP Alex Cobb for the most starts (10), and finished second with 43.2 IP...Surrendered at least one home run in nine of his 10 starts... Started the season on the 10-day Injured List (left shoulder fatigue) and was activated prior to his start on 7/30 vs. NYY...Over his final four starts, he went 2-1 with a 1.55 ERA (4 ER/23.2 IP) with three walks and 30 strikeouts...Posted a 9.31 ERA (10 ER/9.2 IP) in the first inning...Started six of his 10 games at home, pitching to a 1-3 record and 7.06 ERA (17 ER/21.2 IP); compared to a 1-1 record and 2.05 ERA (5 ER/22.0 IP) in four road starts.
2019
Named to his first career American League All-Star team, the lone Orioles representative... Finished second in American League Rookie of the Year voting; first Orioles runner-up in the Rookie of the Year voting since 2002 (RHP Rodrigo Lopez)... According to STATS, LLC., he was the fifth rookie in Orioles history (since 1954), and first since 1966, to be named to the All-Star team, joining RHP Chuck Estrada (1960), 1B Jim Gentile (1960), INF Ron Hansen (1960) and C Andy Etchebarren (1966)... Became the first homegrown Orioles starter to make the All-Star team since Hall of Famer RHP Mike Mussina, who made five All-Star appearances with the O's (1992-94, 97, 99)... His 2.50 first half ERA (23 ER/82.2 IP) was the best amongst Orioles rookies since 1954 (min. 80.0 IP)... Led all Orioles pitchers in wins (12), ERA (3.60), Quality Starts (11), and WHIP (1.14)... According to Baseball-Reference.com, Means led the O's, and all AL rookies, with a 4.5 WAR... Led all rookie pitchers (min. 155.0 IP) in opponent batting average (.234), and ranked in the top 10 among rookie pitchers in: opponent OPS (2nd - .702), WHIP (2nd - 1.14), K/BB, (2nd - 3.18), ERA (3rd - 3.60), K/9 (3rd - 7.03), winning percentage (3rd - .522), wins (4th - 12), opponent SLG (4th - .417), HR/9 (4th, 1.34), strikeouts (5th - 121), and Quality Starts (6th - 11)... Made his first Opening Day roster... Earned his first Major League win in his first appearance of the season on 3/31 at NYY, pitching in relief (3.1 IP, 5 H, ER, HR, BB, 5 K)... Made his first career start on 4/9 vs. OAK (3.0 IP, 4 H, 5 R, ER, HR, BB, K - L)... Recorded his 100th strikeout of the season on 9/5 vs. TEX when he struck out Nick Solak, becoming the sixth left-handed rookie pitcher in Orioles history (since 1954) to reach the 100-strikeout plateau (last: 2012 - Wei-Yin Chen)... His 121 strikeouts were tied with Erik Bedard for the seventh-most by a rookie pitcher in Orioles history... His 12 wins were tied with LHP Wei-Yin Chen as the most by an Orioles left-handed rookie in team history (since 1954)... Held left-handed hitters to a .184 (26-for-141) clip, which ranked eighth-lowest in the AL and 13th-lowest in the majors... According to Baseball Savant, his four-seam fastball had 13.3 inches of vertical movement, 2.8 inches more rise than an average MLB fastball; the 2.8 inches of rise against the average ranked second in the majors (min. 1,000 pitches) behind Houston's RHP Justin Verlander... Pitched to a 7-4 record with a 2.50 ERA (23 ER/82.2 IP) in 18 games (14 starts) in the first half... Made 18 appearances (16 starts) at Oriole Park, pitching to a record of 8-5 with a 2.74 ERA (28 ER/92.0 IP); his home ERA was the fifth-lowest at Oriole Park in a season (min. 90.0 IP)... His 2.74 home ERA was the best by a first-or-second-year Orioles pitcher since Mussina in 1992 (2.65)... In 19 games (16 starts) following a loss, Means went 7-5 with a 3.23 ERA (34 ER/94.2 IP) and a 1.07 WHIP... Finished the month of June with the sixth-lowest ERA in the majors and third-lowest in the AL with a 1.71 ERA (4 ER/21.0 IP) (min. 20.0 IP).
2018
Had his contract selected from Triple-A Norfolk on 9/24 and made his Major League debut on 9/26 at BOS (G1) (3.1 IP, 5 ER, 6 H, 1 HR, 4 K); struck out the first batter he faced (Mitch Moreland)...Went a combined 7-9 with a 3.72 ERA (65 ER/157.1 IP), 32 walks, and 130 strikeouts in 26 starts (28 games) for Double-A Bowie and Triple-A Norfolk...Started the season with Double-A Bowie, going 1-4 with a 4.30 ERA (22 ER/46.0 IP), 13 walks, and 41 strikeouts in seven starts (eight games) for the Baysox...Promoted to Triple-A Norfolk on 5/18 and went 6-5 with a 3.48 ERA (43 ER/111.1 IP), 19 walks, and 89 strikeouts in 19 starts (20 games) for the Tides... Opponents hit .268 (166-for-619) against him, with left-handers hitting .206 (39-for-189) and right-handers hitting .295 (127-for-430)...15 of his 26 minor league starts were Quality Starts... Struck out a season-high 10 batters on 6/6 at Columbus in 5.0 innings of work.
2017
Named Orioles Minor League Pitcher of the Month for April after going 1-1 in five starts with a 1.40 ERA (4 ER/25.2 IP) and 24 strikeouts, holding opponents to a .191 (18-for-94) batting average...Led all Orioles minor leaguers and ranked second in the Eastern League with 124 strikeouts...Ranked fourth in wins (9) among O's organizational pitchers...Tossed a season-high 8.0-scoreless innings on 7/1 at Akron, allowing six hits with four strikeouts and two walks...Went 4-0 in six games (five starts) in July with a 2.39 ERA (10 ER/37.2 IP) with 33 strikeouts and nine walks.
2016
Began the season with Class A-Advanced Frederick...Recorded a season-high 10 strikeouts (6.0 IP) on 5/5 at Potomac (first double-digit strikeout performance of professional career)...In his last four starts with the Keys from 5/5-23, notched a Quality Start in each outing, going 2-0 with a 1.44 ERA (4 ER/25.0 IP) and 32 strikeouts...Held right-handed batters to a .211 clip (30- for-142) with the Keys...Went 3-0 with a 0.93 ERA (3 ER/29.0 IP) and 32 strikeouts in five home starts with Frederick...Debuted with Double-A Bowie on 5/28 and remained with the Baysox for the rest of the season...In his last five starts of the season from 8/14-9/4, he posted a 3.38 ERA (11 ER/29.1 IP).
2015
Ranked second on Class-A Delmarva in wins (9), strikeouts (89), innings pitched (118.1), and tied for second in games started (23)...Started Opening Night for the Shorebirds on 4/9 vs. Greensboro (W, 6.0 IP, 3 H, 7 K)...Won three consecutive starts from 5/28-6/9, going 3-0 with a 2.00 ERA (4 ER/18.0 IP) in those outings...Posted his first professional complete game after tossing a no-hitter on 7/31 vs. Charleston (W, 7.0 IP, 1 BB, 6 K, 1 HB)...Named the South Atlantic Pitcher of the Week for the period of 7/27-8/3: 1-0, 0.00 ERA (7.0 IP), 6 K, 1 CG, 1 SHO, 1 GS...Went 3-3 with a 1.69 ERA (6 ER/32.0 IP) in six July starts... Debuted with Frederick on 8/22.
2014
Did not allow a run over his first three outings (6.0 IP) with Short-Season A Aberdeen¡Earned his first professional win on 8/22 vs. Lowell (5.0 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 K)¡Struck out a season-high six batters twice (8/9 vs. Jamestown and 8/29 at Lowell)¡ Posted a 2.08 ERA (4 ER/17.1 IP) in five home outings with Aberdeen...Went 1-2 with a 2.59 ERA (7 ER/24.1 IP) in five August starts with the IronBirds...Held opponents to a .188 batting average (3-for-16) with RISP and two outs.
