Cleveland Guardians left-hander John Means made a positive step toward his MLB return from Tommy John surgery, pitching two innings in a bridge game at the team’s complex in Goodyear, Ariz., on Saturday.
It was the first game action for the 32-year-old, who signed with Cleveland this spring after undergoing surgery in June 2024.
“(He) pitched really well but (he also) felt great,” Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said, per MLB.com, “so that’s a really good sign.”
Means was expected to be evaluated by Cleveland’s training and medical staff on Sunday, Vogt said, before the hurler can begin searching for a rehab assignment at the minor league level.
“We have to finish the rehab,” Vogt said. “There’s no rushing it. We don’t have a date in mind or anything like that. So, it’s step by step. But in a perfect world, he’s back healthy and he could be an option for us down the stretch.”
A 2019 All-Star, Means is 23-26 in 78 games, which includes 73 starts, to go along with a 3.68 ERA and 334 strikeouts. He spent the first seven years of his career with Baltimore, although he was limited to just 10 starts over the past three seasons due to injuries.
–Field Level Media
