As the Baltimore Orioles gear up for Spring Training workouts, they face a significant challenge. Two of their key starting pitchers, Kyle Bradish and John Means, will not be joining the season’s start due to injuries. Bradish, diagnosed with a sprained ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow, and Means, who experienced an elbow flare-up after returning from Tommy John surgery last season, are crucial to the team’s performance.
Orioles Kyle Bradish, John Means Out With Elbow Injuries
Kyle Bradish has received a platelet-rich plasma injection in his elbow and is expected to begin a throwing program on Friday. With UCL injuries, the fear is that they will ultimately require Tommy John surgery. However, the team hopes the young right-hander can avoid surgery with rest and rehab. Bradish posted a 2.83 ERA over 30 starts for the Orioles in their breakout season in 2023. He finished fourth in AL Cy Young voting and had the fourth-best ERA across the league last season. His impressive season earned him a spot on MLB Network’s Top 100 Players Right Now.
As for John Means, he was activated from the injured list in September after Tommy John surgery in 2022. Means had a flare-up shortly after his return, which forced him to miss the American League Division Series. He began his offseason throwing routine a month later to give himself time to recover. The setback is expected to keep the veteran leftie off the Opening Day roster.
Who Will Step Up In The Rotation?
In their absence, Tyler Wells and Cole Irvin will likely slide back into the Orioles rotation. Both pitchers were seemingly pushed out of the Orioles rotation after the team traded for Corbin Burnes earlier this month. Wells posted a 3.64 ERA over 20 starts last season, while Irvin had a 4.42 ERA over 12 starts.
The Orioles are no stranger to UCL injuries. The Orioles’ All-Star closer Félix Bautista had Tommy John surgery in September and will miss the 2024 season. Bautista also underwent an elbow debridement and ulnar nerve transposition on February 9th.
The Orioles have had their fair share of UCL injuries, and the recovery time can vary greatly. A sprain of the ulnar collateral ligament, like the one Bradish is dealing with, can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months to heal. More severe injuries that require Tommy John surgery, like the one Means underwent, have a recovery timeline of 12-18 months. This context underscores the potential impact of these injuries on the Orioles’ season.
Main Photo Credits: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
