Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Felix Bautista was called upon to hold a one-run lead versus the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday. It wasn't a perfect outing as Bautista did walk two batters, but he was able to work around the danger. He got a groundout and struck out Bo Bichette to convert his first save of the season. Bautista missed all of 2024 while rehabbing Tommy John surgery from October of 2023. He was an elite closer before the surgery, so hopefully that will continue in 2025.
Baltimore Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said on Sunday that right-handed reliever Felix Bautista (elbow) will be on the Opening Day roster. Bautista missed all of the 2024 campaign after having Tommy John surgery in October of 2023 and there was recent concern that he might not be ready for the start of the regular season, but those concerns are now out the window apparently. However, it doesn't mean that the 29-year-old won't be eased into closing duties in the ninth inning after his long layoff. The Mountain appeared in five spring training games and should lead Baltimore in saves in 2025 as long as he's healthy, but fantasy managers may want to temper expectations for his workload early on. Before his injury in 2023, Bautista was lights-out for the Orioles, posting a 1.48 ERA and 33 saves.
Felix Bautista Not A Lock To Be Ready For Opening Day
Baltimore Orioles right-handed reliever Felix Bautista (elbow) isn't a lock to be on the team's Opening Day roster when they take on the division-rival Toronto Blue Jays next Thursday. "No, we're still talking about our roster. We haven't solidified anything there yet," manager Brandon Hyde said when asked if he's confident that Bautista will be ready. The O's were always planning on easing the 29-year-old closer in early on in 2025 after he missed all of the 2024 season following Tommy John surgery in October of 2023, but he might actually begin on the injured list. The good news for fantasy managers is that Bautista has been throwing in spring training and has allowed three runs while striking out seven and walking one in four Grapefruit League appearances. He should still be rostered in all fantasy leagues, but Seranthony Dominguez and Gregory Soto could tag-team closing duties for the O's early on.
Orioles To Be Careful With Felix Bautista Early On
Baltimore Orioles closer Felix Bautista (elbow), who has been cleared to make his Grapefruit League debut on Monday against the division-rival Boston Red Sox, figures to be eased in early on in 2025 after missing all of last year due to Tommy John surgery. "I'm going to be as careful as I possibly can. I don't see him going back-to-back days. I don't see him going 1-pluses. I'm going to have to be careful about getting him up and sitting him down," manager Brandon Hyde said. In terms of who might fill in for a save chance on days that Bautista isn't available, Hyde mentioned Andrew Kittredge, Gregory Soto and Seranthony Dominguez. "I think it's probably a mix and match at that point." It's unclear exactly when the kid gloves will come off Bautista this year, but Hyde did mention "especially in the first half." Still, Bautista should be viewed as a top-10 fantasy closer.
Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Felix Bautista (elbow) could be back on the mound to make his spring debut against the Boston Red Sox on Monday. O's manager Brandon Hyde recently said he is hopeful that Bautista can pitch around seven games before the regular season. The right-hander was one of the best relief pitchers in baseball before missing all of last season due to Tommy John surgery. The team is likely going to ease him back into action, but Bautista has the potential to once again to be one the best closers in baseball.
Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Felix Bautista (elbow) threw his second live batting practice on Thursday and is nearing his spring debut. Roch Kubatko of MASN noted, "it won't be much longer until he pitches in his first Grapefruit League game." Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status, but it appears that the high-end closer is nearing a return to game action. He missed the entire 2024 campaign after undergoing Tommy John surgery in October. During the 2023 season, Bautista was one of the most dominant closers in the sport as he held a 1.48 ERA with a 0.92 WHIP across 68 frames. He tallied 110 punchouts with 33 saves, which were the third-most in the AL. Bautista was also placed in the 100th percentile in xERA and xBA. Given his current status, fantasy managers should expect Bautista to have a good opportunity to be cleared in time for Opening Day, making him a top closer to target in standard formats.
Felix Bautista To Throw A Few More Live BP Sessions
Baltimore Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said that right-handed reliever Felix Bautista (elbow) will throw a couple more live batting practice sessions in camp, with the first one coming on Wednesday and another coming on Thursday. The Orioles are just being extra cautious with their closer, who didn't pitch at all in 2024 due to Tommy John surgery. The 29-year-old threw 25 pitches in a live BP session on Sunday. The 6-foot-8, 285-pounder Dominican hurler was an All-Star in his second season with the O's in 2023, when he had an 8-2 record, 1.48 ERA (1.88 FIP), a 0.92 WHIP, 33 saves, 110 strikeouts and 26 walks in 61 relief innings. Fantasy managers probably shouldn't expect numbers that good in Bautista's return after a year layoff, especially since he's had issues with walks before, but you should still consider him a top-10 fantasy closer as long as he's healthy going into Opening Day.
Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Felix Bautista (elbow) threw live batting practice on Sunday. This was the first time Bautista faced live hitters during his recovery process. Earlier in camp, the right-handed emphasized that he plans to be ready for Opening Day. Bautista underwent Tommy John surgery in October 2023 and missed the entire 2024 campaign. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor Bautista's status, as he may even be cleared to participate in a spring training game in the coming weeks. During the 2023 season, the 29-year-old tallied 33 saves and held a 1.48 ERA and a 0.92 WHIP across 61 frames. He tallied an impressive 110 punchouts. He placed in the 100th percentile in xERA and xBA. When healthy, Bautista should be expected to be the top closer in Baltimore and should be viewed as a high-end relief pitcher in all formats.
Felix Bautista Confident He'll Be 100% Ready For Opening Day
Baltimore Orioles closer Felix Bautista (elbow) told the media at spring training on Friday that he's currently at around 85 percent strength in his throwing program, but he's confident he'll be at 100 percent by Opening Day at the end of March. Bautista is over a year removed from Tommy John surgery on his right elbow after missing all of last year. The 29-year-old is being eased into spring training and won't pitch in Grapefruit League games right away, but barring a setback, it sounds as though he'll be a full-go for the start of the regular season. While the O's could also ease him in during the regular season, Bautista should be considered a lock as a top-10 closer if he recaptures his pre-surgery form as one of the best ninth-inning arms in baseball. The Mountain had 33 saves for Baltimore in 2023 while also posting a 1.48 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and elite 46.4% strikeout rate.
Felix Bautista Has "Very Good Chance" To Be On Opening Day Roster
Baltimore Orioles right-handed relief pitcher Felix Bautista (elbow) won't pitch in Grapefruit League games until late in the spring and will mostly do backfield work until then. However, general manager Mike Elias said that Bautista has a "very good chance" to be on the Opening Day roster. Bautista had Tommy John surgery on his right elbow in October of 2023 and missed all of last season, but he's been throwing bullpen sessions and should be ready for the start of the regular season, barring a setback in spring training. The 29-year-old could be eased back into the closer's role for Baltimore early in the season, but fantasy managers shouldn't ignore the fact that he was one of the league's best closers before his injury in 2023. Despite more risk being involved coming off TJ surgery, RotoBaller has Bautista ranked as the No. 7 fantasy closer.
Félix Bautista
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Orioles
