Bautista (elbow) will undergo Tommy John surgery in October, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
Bautista's 1.48 ERA, 33 saves and 46.4 percent strikeout rate helped the Orioles get back to the playoffs this season, but he won't get to be part of the roster as they push to make their first World Series since 1983. Tommy John surgery seemed possible when Bautista was first diagnosed with a UCL injury back in late August, but the fact that he quickly resumed throwing and had recently advanced to a 25-pitch simulated game seemed to indicate that he'd avoided a worst-case scenario. Instead, he'll miss not only this year's playoffs but the entirety of next season as well. In less significant news, he also signed a two-year contract extension, per Steve Melewski of MASNSports.com, buying out his first year of arbitration and giving him peace of mind as he recovers. Yennier Cano will continue handling closer duties in Bautista's absence.
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Orioles' Felix Bautista: Throws simulated game
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Bautista (elbow) threw a 25-pitch simulated game Tuesday, Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun reports.
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde had revealed previously that Bautista would be throwing, and now we know he faced hitters for the first time since he was diagnosed with a partially torn UCL in his right elbow a month ago. The 28-year-old threw fastballs and off-speed pitches in the session and appeared to come out of it with no issues. According to Cordell Woodland of 105.7 The Fan Baltimore, Hyde also acknowledged the clock is ticking for Bautista to be activated before the end of the season, and the right-hander may need to see game action soon if that's to come to fruition.
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Orioles' Felix Bautista: Will throw again Tuesday
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Orioles manager Brandon Hyde told Dani Wexelman of MLB Network Radio that Bautista (elbow) will throw again Tuesday.
"He's feeling good," Hyde said. "He's going to throw today, we're just monitoring it right now. I'm know we're running out of time a little bit. That's the only update I can give. We'll see how he is tomorrow, if he throws well today we'll continue to progress it. But he hasn't thrown enough, he's had about a month off. We only have six games left...depending on how he feels, there is an injury in there, we wanna be smart." Hyde doesn't appear to be terribly optimistic that Bautista could return before the end of the regular season, although the reliever has seemingly already progressed more quickly than expected from his UCL tear so nothing can be ruled out. Ultimately, the Orioles' main goal figures to be getting Bautista back for the postseason, but there remains work to be done.
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Orioles' Felix Bautista: Advances to mound work
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Bautista (elbow) threw a bullpen session Sunday in Baltimore, Nathan Ruiz of The Baltimore Sun reports.
It was his first mound workout since he was diagnosed three weeks ago with a partial tear of the UCL in his right elbow. Bautista appeared to be using his entire arsenal, per Ruiz, which is another encouraging development as the 28-year-old aims to return to the Orioles' active roster prior to the end of the regular season. Yennier Cano has been filling in as the O's primary closer.
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Orioles' Felix Bautista: Advances to long-toss
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Bautista (elbow) threw long-toss Friday in Baltimore, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
Bautista has been sidelined since late August due to a partial tear of the UCL in his right elbow, but he's been making steady progress and is aiming to return at some point before the end of the regular season. He'll probably have to advance to mound work within the next week to achieve that goal. Yennier Cano is currently positioned as the Orioles' primary closer.
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Orioles' Felix Bautista: Chance to pitch again in '23
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General manager Mike Elias confirmed Monday that Bautista (elbow) is dealing with a partial tear of his UCL, but the Orioles maintain hope that the right-hander will be able to pitch again in 2023, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
Though the Orioles plan to take a conservative approach with Bautista's recovery from the acute ligament injury, he's already resumed playing catch and hasn't required any platelet-rich plasma injections for his right elbow, per Nathan Ruiz of The Baltimore Sun. Elias suggested that the Orioles will continue to see how Bautista's elbow responds as the All-Star closer gradually ramps up the intensity of his throwing, but the 28-year-old is without a clear target date to return from the 15-day injured list. Additionally, Elias noted that surgery isn't necessarily off the table for Bautista, but the Orioles are likely to wait until the offseason before exploring any potential procedure.
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Orioles' Felix Bautista: Resumes playing catch
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Bautista (elbow) played catch for the second time Friday, Danielle Allentuck of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports.
There has been some caginess around Bautista's elbow injury -- initial word was that it involved his ulnar collateral ligament -- but he seems to be making progress and hasn't been ruled out for a return this year. "We're going to see how he feels," Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said after Friday's workout. "We are just kind of monitoring it day-to-day." Yennier Cano (two) and Shintaro Fujinami and Danny Coulombe (one each) have gotten the saves so far in September for the O's.
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Orioles' Felix Bautista: Gets MRI, could need more tests
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Manager Brandon Hyde said Sunday that Bautista has received an MRI on his injured right elbow, but the Orioles will wait for the inflammation in the pitcher's arm to subside before a decision is made on his next steps, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.
The standout closer was placed on the 15-day IL on Aug. 26 with what the Orioles described as a UCL injury, but the severity of the issue still hasn't been disclosed. Once some of the elbow inflammation clears up, Bautista could get more tests that may shed more light on the extent of his injury. Regardless, Bautista appears safe to rule out for returning from the IL when first eligible next weekend, and even if he's able to steer clear of elbow surgery, he won't necessarily be a lock to pitch again in 2023.
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Orioles' Felix Bautista: Leaves save chance with injury
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Bautista was removed from a save appearance versus the Rockies on Friday with an undisclosed injury, Steve Melewski of MASNSports.com reports.
Bautista was one strike away from putting the game on ice but evidently tweaked something while delivering a 102.3 mph fastball to Michael Toglia. The closer was visited by the trainer before exiting the field, and he'll likely be sent for testing. Danny Coulombe then needed just one pitch to strike out Toglia and secure an Orioles win.
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Orioles' Felix Bautista: Out with UCL injury
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Bautista was placed on the 15-day injured list Saturday with a UCL injury, Danielle Allentuck of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports.
Bautista left his outing Friday against the Rockies with right arm discomfort, and it looks like the injury is potentially a serious one. The Orioles haven't specified an exact diagnosis or timeline for Bautista, but Tommy John surgery would seem to be a possibility given that he's dealing with UCL troubles. Even a lesser injury would still be a huge blow to the Orioles, as Bautista has been the best reliever in baseball this season, riding a 46.4 percent strikeout rate to a 1.48 ERA and 33 saves. Yennier Cano is likely to step into the ninth inning in his absence.
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Orioles' Felix Bautista: Undergoing tests on sore arm
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Bautista is undergoing tests after exiting Friday's appearance against the Rockies due to right arm discomfort, Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun reports.
Bautista was just one strike away from a save when he was lifted from the outing after delivering a 102.3 mph fastball. Orioles manager Brandon Hyde declined to go into more specifics when asked about the exact nature of the righty's injury, adding only that "when the best closer in the game leaves the game, it's never a good feeling." Yennier Cano would be the obvious choice to step in as Baltimore's closer should Bautista need to miss time. Danny Coulombe got a one-out save in relief of Bautista on Friday and could also be in the mix.
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Orioles' Felix Bautista: Notches 33rd save
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Bautista picked up the save Thursday, delivering a perfect ninth inning to close out a 5-3 win over the Blue Jays.
Bautista set the Blue Jays down in order in the ninth inning Thursday to earn his 33rd save, tying him for second most in the league. The 28-year-old extended his scoreless streak to six innings, lowering his ERA to a pristine 1.49 to go along with a 0.93 WHIP and 109:26 K:BB across 60.1 frames this season.
Bautista (8-2) struck out one in a perfect inning to earn the extra-inning win over the Athletics on Saturday.
Bautista needed just nine pitches to set the Athletics down in order in the bottom of the ninth inning, and the Orioles' offense exploded for five runs in the top of the 10th. Aside from his five runs allowed against Houston over two appearances earlier this month, Bautista has been virtually untouchable for much of the last two months. He's 32-for-38 in save chances with a 1.54 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 109:26 K:BB through 58.1 innings overall. Given that this was his first outing since Monday, Bautista should be available if another save chance arises Sunday.
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Orioles' Felix Bautista: Walks two but nabs save
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Bautista earned a save in Monday's 4-1 win over the Padres, allowing two walks in a hitless and scoreless inning.
Bautista didn't make things easy on himself, as he threw only 10 of 21 pitches for strikes and issued a pair of one-out walks to bringing the tying run to the plate in the form of Manny Machado. However, the All-Star closer was able to get Machado to ground into a double play, ending the threat and giving Bautista his AL-best 32nd save. He's had an uncharacteristically tough time of late, though, allowing five runs on six hits and posting a 6:5 K:BB over his past 4.2 innings covering four appearances.
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Orioles' Felix Bautista: Picks up extra-inning win
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Bautista (7-2) allowed a hit and struck out four over two scoreless innings to earn the extra-inning win Saturday over the Mariners.
Offense was at a premium Saturday, but Bautista made sure the Mariners saw none of it. He kept the game scoreless in the ninth inning and then protected a 1-0 lead in the 10th to pick up the win. Bautista allowed five runs over 1.2 innings across his previous two appearances, both against Houston, but prior to that shaky stretch, he'd posted a 17-inning scoreless streak. Even with the recent struggles, he has a 1.60 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, 108:24 K:BB and 31 saves in 37 chances through 56.1 innings this season as one of the best relievers in baseball.
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Orioles' Felix Bautista: Struggles in 31st save
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Bautista picked up the save in Thursday's 5-4 win over the Astros, allowing one run on two hits and two walks over one inning.
Bautista entered the game with a two-run lead in the ninth inning and got Jake Meyers to fly out before things got dicey. The right-handed reliever surrendered a double to Jose Altuve and then proceeded to walk two of the next three batters, setting up an RBI single for Yainer Diaz. Bautista was still able to escape with his 31st save of the season, though he's now allowed runs in back-to-back appearances after previously not allowing a run since June 24.
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Orioles' Felix Bautista: Rare misstep versus Houston
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Bautista dropped to 6-2 after allowing four runs on three hits and a walk while striking out two over two-thirds of an inning in a blown save in Tuesday's 7-6 loss to the Astros.
Bautista had converted 10 straight save chances and had a 17-inning scoreless streak dating back to June. He needed 30 pitches to get his two outs, but he gave up a grand slam to Kyle Tucker to blow the save while allowing multiple runs for the first time since April 1. Bautista still has a 1.52 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and 104:22 K:BB with 30 saves in 36 chances through 53.1 innings this year. He's earned the benefit of the doubt that this is one bad outing and not the beginning of a late-season collapse.
Bautista picked up the save in Sunday's 2-0 win over the Mets. He allowed one hit while striking out one in a scoreless ninth inning.
A leadoff double was the only blemish for Bautista, who is compiling one of the greatest single-season efforts for a reliever of all time. Bautista not only has a 102:21 K:BB but has also struck out more than two times the total number of baserunners he's allowed. He hasn't allowed an earned run over his past 14 outings, and his 0.85 ERA is best among all pitchers with at least 30 innings.
