John Means Suffers Torn Achilles on Same Day He Was Set to Sign with New Team
Just when it looked like John Means was finally turning the corner, baseball threw him another brutal curveball.
The veteran left-hander revealed Thursday that he ruptured his Achilles tendon earlier this week - on the very same day he was set to sign a new MLB contract and make his long-awaited return to Opening Day. The injury is a heartbreaking setback for a pitcher who’s spent the better part of the last two years grinding his way back to full health.
“This is hard to put into words, but I’ll try,” Means wrote in an Instagram post, alongside a photo of himself on a hospital gurney, his left foot bandaged. “On Tuesday, while training, I ruptured my Achilles. It happened the same day I was supposed to sign with a team and be available on Opening Day for the first time in a long time.”
The timing couldn’t have been more cruel. After undergoing Tommy John surgery in June 2024 while still with the Orioles, Means spent the 2025 season with the Cleveland Guardians rehabbing.
He didn’t pitch in the majors, but he did make seven rehab starts in the minors - four with the High-A Lake County Captains and three with Triple-A Columbus. The numbers weren’t sharp - a 6.08 ERA and 1.27 WHIP over 26.2 innings - but that wasn’t the point.
Just getting back on the mound was the win.
Means had finally made it through a healthy offseason, his first in four years. He was feeling strong.
He was ready. And then, just like that, another major injury.
“Yesterday, I underwent successful surgery with Dr. Vopat and his incredible team,” Means added in his post.
“I was finally enjoying my first healthy offseason in four years and felt better than ever. I don’t know why this happened or how this chapter will ultimately be used, but I know it’s now part of my story and God has a plan.”
Now 32, Means became a free agent in November after the Guardians declined his 2026 team option. He was reportedly on the verge of signing with an undisclosed team before the injury struck. That deal is now off the table, and Means faces another long road back - this time from a torn Achilles, one of the most difficult injuries for any athlete to recover from.
It’s a tough break for a pitcher who’s already battled more than his fair share of adversity. Means broke into the majors with the Orioles in 2018 and quickly established himself as a reliable arm in Baltimore’s rotation.
His breakout came in 2019, when he earned an All-Star nod and finished second in AL Rookie of the Year voting. Over seven seasons with the Orioles, he posted a 23-26 record, 3.68 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, and 334 strikeouts across 401 innings - numbers that speak to his consistency and command when healthy.
But health has been the recurring challenge. From shoulder issues to Tommy John surgery, and now this Achilles tear, Means has had to fight for every inning. And yet, through it all, he’s remained a competitor - someone teams still believe in when he’s on the mound.
This latest injury delays his return once again, but if his past is any indication, John Means won’t go down easy. He’s been here before. And if there’s one thing we’ve learned about him, it’s that he knows how to battle back.