Former DiamondDawg and current Orioles All-Star left-hander John Means named finalist for AL Rookie of the Year!
Orioles rookie left-hander John Means, who represented the team as their only All-Star in 2019, is in the mix to add another honor to his resume.
The 26-year-old left-hander was announced Monday night as one of the three finalists for the American League Rookie of the Year Award, along with Houston Astros slugger Yordan Álvarez and Tampa Bay Rays infielder Brandon Lowe, a University of Maryland product.
Means was one of the few bright spots in an Orioles season that went mostly as expected, though he certainly outperformed what anyone in the organization had him pegged for in 2019. After making his debut as an emergency call-up the previous September, Means has often proclaimed that he expected to be among the first spring training roster cuts this year.
He had a 2.50 ERA at the All-Star break, and though he didn’t pitch in the game itself, he was dominant throughout the first half and broke out of a late-July swoon to finish with a 3.82 ERA in September.
Means made 31 appearances (27 starts) with a 12-11 record, a 3.60 ERA, and a 1.135 WHIP.
The winner will be announced on Nov. 11 on MLB Network.