Kansas native John Means signs with hometown Royals

The Kansas City Royals continue to add to their pitching depth this spring.

After acquiring veteran pitcher Mitch Spence from the Athletics on Thursday, the Royals stayed busy Friday by signing lefty pitcher John Means to a minor-league deal.

Means, 32, is a Kansas native. He attended Gardner Edgerton High School and will get a chance to play for the hometown Royals.

It will likely be a minute, however.

Means ruptured his Achilles tendon in December. He underwent surgery and the recovery could sideline him for a significant period.

The Royals took a chance on him anyway, signing Means to a two-year contract.

It could be a sound investment. Means owns a 3.68 ERA in 78 career games and most notably threw a no-hitter against the Seattle Mariners in 2021.

His health does remain a huge question mark. Means has undergone two Tommy John surgeries — April 2022 and June 2024 — and now has a ruptured Achilles.

The Royals are his third major-league team. He spent 2025 with the Cleveland Guardians organization and made seven rehab appearances.

Means wrote on Instagram that he ruptured the Achilles while training. He was on track to be healthy for opening day, but now he has to rehab once more.

The Royals can give him that chance. The two-year deal allows Means to get healthy in 2026 with the security to work his way back to form.

The signing could be seen as low-risk, high-reward. The Royals took a chance on Cole Ragans after he, too, underwent two Tommy John surgeries. Means is an older veteran, but if he can return to full health, the Royals could have another proven starter down the road.