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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.<\/p>\n
Imagine if they had one more clutch hit or out in their arsenal; the story might have been very different.<\/p>\n
Missing from their postseason lineup was F\u00e9lix Bautista, the flamethrower who underwent Tommy John surgery in October 2023 and last pitched for the Orioles on August 25 of that year.<\/p>\n
But just around the corner, Baltimore fans have a reason to be optimistic as the mountain of talent is set to return.<\/p>\n
Bautista\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
The 2023 season saw him named an All-Star and even finish 11th in the AL Cy Young voting\u2013a testament to his prowess on the field.<\/p>\n
Fast forward to February 2025, and Bautista should be back in full swing, 16 months post-surgery, ready to rejoin spring training.<\/p>\n
Bautista\u2019s rise through the ranks was anything but typical. Initially a part of the Miami Marlins\u2019 farm system, his prospects seemed bleak.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Still, it took him four seasons in the DSL before he\u2019d advance to the United States.<\/p>\n
The road remained bumpy with a pandemic-washed 2020, but by 2021, something clicked.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Reflecting on his monumental leap, Bautista expressed his joy and gratitude in 2022, saying, \u201cIt\u2019s 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,\u201d he shared through a translator.<\/p>\n
Orioles\u2019 manager Brandon Hyde was equally impressed, lauding the player development team for nurturing Bautista\u2019s rise. \u201cHe\u2019s fun to watch and a joy to have around.<\/p>\n
Throwing 99 mph and mixing in a lethal split-fingered pitch helps too,\u201d Hyde praised.<\/p>\n
Bautista\u2019s 2021 campaign was pivotal, though not without its challenges. His command issues persisted, initially walking too many hitters.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Now, at 29, Bautista stands as a beacon of resilience and a testament to patience and perseverance.<\/p>\n
As spring training beckons, so too does the return of a pivotal figure in Baltimore\u2019s bullpen, ready to reclaim his spot as a force to be reckoned with. Feburary in Sarasota can\u2019t come soon enough for the Orioles.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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