Félix Bautista's Stats, Metrics, Game Logs, Projections & Rankings

Baltimore Orioles general manager Mike Elias said that right-hander Grayson Rodriguez (lat), relief pitcher Felix Bautista (elbow) and infielder Jorge Mateo (elbow) will all be more or less full-go for the start of spring training next February. Rodriguez carries the most fantasy relevance of the trio as a high-end starting fantasy arm when healthy. The 24-year-old strained his right lat in early August and ran out of time to build his arm up and was unavailable in the Wild-Card series against the Royals this week. Rodriguez also missed some time with a shoulder injury in 2024. Bautista was a first-time All-Star in 2023 and saved 33 games, but he missed all of 2024 while recovering from Tommy John surgery. When healthy, he should return as Baltimore's closer next year. Mateo had UCL reconstructive surgery on his left elbow in late August. If he returns fully healthy in 2025, he should settle into a utility role yet again for the O's.

Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Felix Bautista (elbow) was officially ruled out of the 2024 season, according to Andy Kostka of the Baltimore Banner on Saturday afternoon. Bautista is scheduled to throw off a mound sometime next week, but GM Mike Elias confirmed that the star closer will not return to game action this season. The hard-throwing right-hander underwent Tommy John surgery last October and had a very slim chance of returning to the big leagues this season. The 29-year-old should be expected to be fully recovered from his operation come spring training next season. Last summer, Bautista was one of the best closers in the game, holding an incredible 2.08 xERA, .142 xBA, 44.3% whiff rate, and a 46.4% K rate. Bautista will likely return to his ninth-inning role in Baltimore next summer and will be one of the first relievers taken in many fantasy leagues.

Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Felix Bautista (elbow) began playing catch on Friday. This marks the first time that Bautista has thrown since having Tommy John surgery in October and an additional surgery in February. Bautista injured his elbow in a relief appearance against the Colorado Rockies last August. As of now a return in the 2024 season has not been ruled out, though it's highly unlikely the 28-year-old will return this year. Bautista was one of the Orioles' most effective relievers in 2023, posting a 1.48 ERA in 61 innings in 2023. Fantasy managers need not worry about his status this season and instead focus on his return in the 2025 season.