Right-handed Baltimore Orioles pitchers Felix Bautista and Zach Eflin are now ruled out for the rest of the 2025 season due to injuries.
Eflin will undergo surgery on his lower back for a lumbar issue. Bautista, on the other hand, will undergo a medical appointment to diagnose a “significant shoulder injury.”
News of the injuries follows a significant update to Grayson Rodriguez, who underwent elbow surgery in August. The team now has nine different pitchers on injured reserve as of Aug. 12, and thirteen pitchers have hit the list at least once this season. With the new injuries to the starting rotation and the bullpen, the Orioles’ playoff chances are essentially ended.
Zach Eflin (back surgery), and Félix Bautista (shoulder) will miss the rest of the Orioles season. Per MASN pic.twitter.com/5fUfJpCEbv
— Barstool Baltimore (@StoolBaltimore) August 12, 2025
Bautista’s Injury Brings Bounce-Back 2025 To A Close
The 2023 All-Star missed all of 2024 recovering from Tommy John surgery. Bautista’s return to the bullpen this year boosted the team’s chances to win the American League East and possibly make a World Series run. As the team fell apart early in the season, Bautista also suffered a slump early on.
Despite pitching to a two-ERA in April, the 30-year-old veteran surrendered eight walks and two home runs in 9.2 innings pitched in May. He did bounce back tremendously, surrendering only two runs in 17 innings between June and July, and striking out 26. Bautista held a WHIP under one before suffering a shoulder injury in late July.
Félix Bautista was not selected to the 2025 MLB All-Star Game.
2025 Stats: 32 G, 2.56 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 45 Ks, 17 SVs#Birdland #baltimorebattery #Orioles #LetsGoOs pic.twitter.com/6SgYPerq22
— The Baltimore Battery (@TheBmoreBattery) July 6, 2025
Bautista notched 19 saves for the Orioles in 20 save situations, pitching to a 1.35 ERA and .95 WHIP. He also did not surrender a single home run in situations, striking out 29 over 20 innings. He fared worse in non-save situations, pitching to a 4.30 ERA and 1.364 WHIP. Keegan Akin is next in line for save opportunities for the remainder of the year.
Eflin’s Worst Season Since 2017
With the veteran starter now going under the knife, Eflin’s season is the worst since his 2017 campaign with the Philadelphia Phillies. He ends his second year with the Orioles with a 5.93 ERA over 71.1 innings pitched, along with 18 home runs surrendered. The 31-year-old also notched 50 strikeouts while carrying a 1.42 WHIP.
Eflin suffered a lat injury on April 8, putting him out of action until early May. He then suffered an initial back injury on June 28 during a start against Tampa Bay, before returning on July 23. Eflin experienced back injuries in 2023 and 2024, along with shoulder discomfort and continuing knee issues.
If this is it for Zach Eflin’s Orioles career, his final numbers:
11-7 with a 4.48 ERA in 23 starts and 126.2 IP with 97 strikeouts, 24 walks and 26 home runs. He also went 4 innings with one run in his lone postseason start.
The former 2023 Tampa Bay Rays ace is up for free agency at the end of the 2025 season. It’s currently unclear if the Orioles are expected to offer any contracts before the deadline for free agents hits.
Roster moves corresponding to Eflin and Bautista have not been announced as of Tuesday evening.
