For the Baltimore Orioles, the past two Octobers have been a study in near-misses, with an 0-5 record in playoff games and three heartbreakers decided by just a single run.
Imagine if they had one more clutch hit or out in their arsenal; the story might have been very different.
Missing from their postseason lineup was Félix Bautista, the flamethrower who underwent Tommy John surgery in October 2023 and last pitched for the Orioles on August 25 of that year.
But just around the corner, Baltimore fans have a reason to be optimistic as the mountain of talent is set to return.
Bautista’s journey to the mound in Baltimore is nothing short of miraculous. His journey was a slow burn that eventually ignited into All-Star caliber status.
The 2023 season saw him named an All-Star and even finish 11th in the AL Cy Young voting–a testament to his prowess on the field.
Fast forward to February 2025, and Bautista should be back in full swing, 16 months post-surgery, ready to rejoin spring training.
Bautista’s rise through the ranks was anything but typical. Initially a part of the Miami Marlins’ farm system, his prospects seemed bleak.
Released by the Marlins in January 2015 and left unsigned until Baltimore picked him up in August 2016, Bautista seemed destined to become a footnote. Yet, by 2017, glimpses of his potential began to surface, notably in the Dominican Summer League where he posted a 2.01 ERA while cutting down on walks.
Still, it took him four seasons in the DSL before he’d advance to the United States.
The road remained bumpy with a pandemic-washed 2020, but by 2021, something clicked.
That year became the turning point; he started at High-A Aberdeen and before long, he was making his presence felt in the big leagues. Bautista covered more ground in 12 months than he had in nearly a decade.
Reflecting on his monumental leap, Bautista expressed his joy and gratitude in 2022, saying, “It’s very special for me to be here, after 10 long years in the minors. A lot of hard work went into that and just to be here today is special for me,” he shared through a translator.
Orioles’ manager Brandon Hyde was equally impressed, lauding the player development team for nurturing Bautista’s rise. “He’s fun to watch and a joy to have around.
Throwing 99 mph and mixing in a lethal split-fingered pitch helps too,” Hyde praised.
Bautista’s 2021 campaign was pivotal, though not without its challenges. His command issues persisted, initially walking too many hitters.
Early 2021 saw him with a sky-high 6.0 walks per nine innings at High-A and 7.4 at Double-A Bowie, despite posting microscopic ERAs of 1.20 and 0.68, respectively. By Triple-A Norfolk, flashes of his potential fully emerged; he was now touching 100 mph and paired it with a reduced walk rate of 4.4 per nine innings.
By the time he hit the majors, he had honed his control to a career-best level. His 2022 performance was nothing short of electric: a 2.19 ERA with a 178 ERA+ and a WHIP of 0.929, fanning 12.1 batters per nine innings.
Not to be outdone, he upped his game in 2023 with a 1.48 ERA (277 ERA+), a 0.918 WHIP, and an eye-watering 16.2 K/9.
Now, at 29, Bautista stands as a beacon of resilience and a testament to patience and perseverance.
As spring training beckons, so too does the return of a pivotal figure in Baltimore’s bullpen, ready to reclaim his spot as a force to be reckoned with. Feburary in Sarasota can’t come soon enough for the Orioles.
