Baltimore Orioles Lose Félix Bautista to Injury
The Baltimore Orioles suffer a significant setback with the entry of their star closer, Félix Bautista, on the 15-day injured list. The Dominican pitcher is experiencing discomfort in his right shoulder, as announced by the team this Thursday. Bautista, who returned this season after Tommy John surgery that kept him out of action in 2024, felt discomfort while warming up in the bullpen during Wednesday’s game against the Cleveland Guardians. Interim manager Tony Mansolino revealed that the situation caused concern among the coaching staff.The 30-year-old right-hander has been a fundamental pillar for Baltimore this year, accumulating 19 saves in 20 opportunities, placing him sixth in the American League. His ERA is 2.60 in 35 appearances, with 50 strikeouts in 34.2 innings, limiting opponents to a .134 batting average. His last appearance was last Sunday against Tampa Bay, where he earned his most recent save. Since then, he did not see action in any of the three games in Cleveland. The club indicated that Bautista will undergo an MRI this Friday, once the team returns home. In Bautista’s absence, the Orioles will rely on a group of relievers, led by Dominicans Seranthony Domínguez and Cuban Yennier Cano, to close out games. Let’s expand their roles and see how they respond. It’s a delicate situation and we must handle it with caution. Bautista, who will not be eligible for free agency until 2028, is in the final year of a two-season contract for US$2 million and will be eligible for salary arbitration at the end of this campaign. With Baltimore out of the running for the wild card in the American League, the team is expected to be sellers in the trade market before July 31, which adds uncertainty to the bullpen configuration for the remainder of the season.Last night, the dugout phone rang in the seventh inning and I thought, ‘That’s not good.’ Then they hung up abruptly and I knew something was up with Félix. He had started his warm-up process when everything stopped.
Tony Mansolino
