Baltimore Orioles closer Felix Bautista is showing signs of returning to form after undergoing Tommy John elbow reconstruction surgery in late 2023. The right-hander has successfully navigated high-leverage situations early in the season, building confidence as he progresses.
Bautista earned his fourth save of the season Monday against the Yankees, completing a perfect inning with two strikeouts. This marked his third save in as many appearances.
Pitching in pressure moments, such as a one-run game on the road, provides a different feeling, Bautista said. He earned a save at Nationals Park recently, appearing closer to his prior performance level.
While his fastball velocity has not yet consistently reached triple digits, Bautista has touched 98 mph with his sinker and is effectively using his splitter and slider. His slider usage has increased significantly compared to 2023, jumping from 4.8% to 15% this season.
"My slider’s working really well, and it’s better than it was before," Bautista said. "I’m trying to take advantage of that."
The splitter and slider are proving effective at missing bats, with whiff rates of 65% and 42.9% respectively. Catcher Adley Rutschman noted Bautista's improved presence and confidence in throwing his secondary pitches.
Bautista has not allowed a run in his last five outings and has not walked a batter in his last two. Through eight innings, he holds a 2.25 ERA with a 10:6 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
Conversations with other pitchers who have recovered from similar surgery have reassured Bautista that his experience, including the gradual return of velocity and command, is typical.
"It’s a process," Bautista said. "It’s just a matter of continuing the process and trusting your work, and sure enough, it’ll return to form."
Despite Bautista's individual success, the Orioles team has struggled overall, holding a 10-14 record ahead of Saturday's doubleheader.
The Orioles believe they can get out of this rut — and find a leader to guide them there.
Manager Brandon Hyde intends to ease Bautista back into a full workload, not yet using him on back-to-back nights. However, Bautista has completed initial steps like warming up on consecutive days or warming up multiple times in a single game.
As Bautista continues to clear these hurdles, Hyde's confidence grows in the 2023 All-Star's ability to handle the closer role.
