Baltimore Orioles general manager Mike Elias announced on Saturday that closer Félix Bautista is set to throw off a full mound next week, marking a significant milestone in his recovery from Tommy John surgery.
Bautista underwent the surgery 11 months ago and has had a smooth recovery, aside from a debridement and ulnar nerve transposition in February. Despite the Orioles leading the American League East and vying for the top seed in the postseason, Elias confirmed that Bautista will not return this season, maintaining his original timeline for a comeback in spring training 2025. Recovery from this surgery typically takes 12-18 months.
Bautista, who aims to be ready for Opening Day next year, has spent much of his recovery at the Orioles’ spring training facility in Sarasota, Florida, with periodic visits to the team to assess his progress.
In Bautista’s absence, the Orioles will continue to rely on Craig Kimbrel as their closer. Kimbrel, a nine-time All-Star, is one of the most accomplished closers in baseball, with 440 career saves as of Saturday. He has 23 saves this season and is on track for his highest single-season save total since recording 42 saves with Boston in 2018. The Orioles’ bullpen also includes Yennier Cano, Seranthony Dominguez, Cionel Perez, Gregory Soto, and Keegan Akin.
Before suffering a torn UCL in his right arm last August, Bautista was enjoying a standout season. He earned an All-Star selection, was named to the All-MLB First Team, and received the Mariano Rivera Reliever of the Year Award after posting an 8-2 record with 33 saves and a 1.48 ERA in 56 games. He struck out 110 batters in 61 innings, averaging 16.2 strikeouts per nine innings. At the time of his injury, he had a 2.8 fWAR, ranking 20th among all pitchers.
Bautista’s journey to the majors was a long one. Initially signed by the Miami Marlins as an international free agent from the Dominican Republic in 2012, he spent three years in their organization before being released in 2015. He joined the Orioles in 2016 and worked his way up to the majors by 2022, eventually becoming the team’s full-time closer last season, finishing with a 4-4 record, a 2.19 ERA in 65 appearances, 15 saves, 88 strikeouts, and 23 walks.
