Orioles' Felix Bautista: Expected to be full go in spring
Rotowire
Orioles general manager Mike Elias said Thursday that he expects Bautista (elbow) to more or less be without restrictions at the start of spring training, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
Bautista started throwing off the mound in August and will be 16 months removed from Tommy John surgery by February. As long as he looks good during Grapefruit League play, he should regain the closer role for Baltimore heading into 2025. Bautista posted a 1.48 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and 110:26 K:BB over 61 innings while notching 33 saves in 2023.
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Orioles' Felix Bautista: First post-surgery bullpen session
Rotowire
Bautista (elbow) threw a bullpen session Wednesday, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.
Bautista threw off the mound for the first time since he had Tommy John surgery last October. He has already been ruled out for a return in 2024, but Bautista should be in store for a relatively normal offseason and enter spring training with little-to-no restrictions.
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Orioles' Felix Bautista: Officially out for season
Rotowire
General manager Mike Elias confirmed Saturday that Bautista (elbow) won't pitch in 2024, Andy Kostka of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports.
Bautista returning in 2024 seemed like a longshot after he underwent Tommy John surgery last October, but there was a sliver of hope he'd be available come playoff time. While we won't see Bautista in an Orioles uniform until 2025, he's been progressing well and is expected to begin throwing off a mound next week.
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Orioles' Felix Bautista: Starts playing catch
Rotowire
Bautista (elbow) played catch Friday, Danielle Allentuck of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports.
Bautista is continuing to rehab from October 2023 Tommy John surgery and a follow-up procedure in February. While a 2024 return hasn't been ruled out and Friday's progress is encouraging, it's highly unlikely Bautista will be back on a mound for the O's this season.
The Orioles placed Bautista (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Wednesday.
Bautista will miss the entire 2024 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in October followed by a right elbow debridement and an ulnar nerve transposition procedure last week. Baltimore brought in veteran right-hander Craig Kimbrel on a one-year, $13 million contract in December and will install him as the closer this season while Bautista completes his rehab.
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Orioles' Felix Bautista: Undergoes additional elbow surgery
Rotowire
Bautista underwent a right elbow debridement and an ulnar nerve transposition Friday, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.
The first part of the operation cleaned up scar tissue in the elbow, while the second moved the nerve to free it up from compression. While not routine, follow-up procedures are sometimes needed for pitchers recovering from Tommy John surgery. Bautista's recovery is going well and the Orioles do not expect his readiness for the 2025 campaign to be affected.
Orioles' Felix Bautista: Not ruling out late-season return
Rotowire
Bautista (elbow) on Tuesday wouldn't rule out the possibility of returning before the end of the 2024 season, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
Bautista underwent Tommy John surgery in October, so the odds of him making it back at any point in 2024 are slim, if not non-existent. The goal remains for the reliever to be ready for the start of the 2025 season. Craig Kimbrel is slated to serve as the Orioles' closer while Bautista rehabs.
Orioles' Felix Bautista: Tommy John surgery completed
Rotowire
Bautista (elbow) underwent successful Tommy John surgery in Arlington, Texas on Monday.
As the Orioles' American League Division Series shifts to Texas for Game 3 on Tuesday, Bautista traveled with the team and had his procedure performed by the Rangers' team physician, Dr. Keith Meister, who is also one of the foremost orthopedic surgeons for elbow reconstructions. A first-time All-Star in 2023, Bautista had arguably emerged as MLB's top closer before throwing his last pitch in late August, as he had compiled a 1.48 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and 110:26 K:BB to go with 33 saves in 39 chances over 61 innings. He's expected to remain out through the entire 2024 season before returning as a full participant for spring training in 2025 if he endures no setbacks in his recovery from surgery.
