Baltimore Orioles' Star Closer Félix Bautista Set to Return from Injury

The Baltimore Orioles are bringing some much-needed good news as the 2025 season gets underway: the star closer, Félix Bautista, is on pace to return from injury. Baltimore Orioles closer Félix Bautista has missed all of 2024 after suffering a right elbow injury that required him to undergo Tommy John surgery. Orioles manager Brandon Hyde recently mentioned during an Orioles Fest that Bautista is showing all the right signs of recovery. That's great news for a team which intends to compete at the best level in the American League.


With the return of Félix Bautista to the Orioles' bullpen in 2025, it was a turning point moment for the team. The young 29-year-old closer missed the complete 2024 season due to his Tommy John procedure but has reportedly been on the road to recovery so far. Recently at Orioles Fest, manager Brandon Hyde said that Bautista has been chucking at the team's spring training complex in Sarasota, Florida and claimed that he "looks really good." This can serve as a good omen for Bautista to get prepared and ready to join the team again right when Opening Day begins, which might just give the Orioles the kind of spark their bullpen needs.
The Orioles bullpen in 2024 is a far cry from what that team had entering the league season in 2023, ranking fifth overall on bullpen ERA rankings. For this season, their bullpen ranked an unimpressive 22nd in the big leagues. Bautista is going to elevate this greatly since his performances since 2022 and 2023 have been absolutely dominant. He has a powerful fastball and lethal slider. Bautista is one of the most aggressive closers in MLB immediately, so the return gives the Orioles a legitimate game-closer for 2025.

Félix Bautista made his presence known in 2022, proving almost immediately that he could be too overpowering for any hitter. Already as a rookie, Félix Bautista struck out 88 batters over 65.2 innings, coming with a very impressive ERA of 2.19. Bautista improved even more in 2023, striking out 110 batters over 61 innings, with an ERA of 1.48 and 33 saves. He got into the All-Star game and even voted on Cy Young, where he placed 11th—a tremendous accolade for a reliever.
Perhaps, Bautista's return to the Orioles' bullpen in 2025 can be just the medicine the team needs after that grueling season in 2024. The ability to close games will come in very handy. But that is not the only change that is happening within the bullpen as the team has signed Andrew Kittredge in free agency. They will get Gregory Soto and Seranthony Domínguez from the Philadelphia Phillies, who had been traded out of there.
With Bautista back and these new players added, the Orioles' bullpen will be stronger and ready to compete in 2025.
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