Félix Bautista undergoes surgery and faces a long recovery
The Dominican closer for the Baltimore Orioles, Félix Bautista, is once again in a recovery process after undergoing surgery on his throwing shoulder.
The procedure, performed in Los Angeles by Dr. Neal ElAttrache, a recognized specialist, repaired a tear in the rotator cuff and another in the labrum.
According to the medical diagnosis, the 30-year-old right-handed pitcher will be out of action for at least 12 months. This could mean missing the entire 2026 season and returning as late as 2027.
The absence of Bautista is a hard blow for the Orioles, who have already felt his absence since he suffered an injury to the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in August 2023. This injury led him to Tommy John surgery, which kept him out in 2024.
Known as “The Mountain” for his imposing presence on the mound, Bautista had had outstanding performances in his first two seasons in the MLB. In 2023, he was awarded the Mariano Rivera AL Reliever of the Year Award, with an ERA of 1.48 and 33 saves in 56 appearances.
In 2025, he managed to return to the field with some effectiveness (ERA of 2.60 and 19 saves in 35 games), although his speed no longer consistently reached three figures. A discomfort during a warm-up in Cleveland raised the alarms in July, with the severity of the injury being confirmed after medical studies.
Now, Baltimore is left without its star closer at a complicated moment, with a 59-67 record and out of the fight in the American League. The bullpen has been managed by a committee, with Keegan Akin, Dietrich Enns, and Corbin Martin sharing save opportunities.
Faced with this situation, General Manager Mike Elias will have to rethink the bullpen reconstruction during the offseason, considering that several important arms also left the club at the trade deadline.
