The Baltimore Orioles placed right-hander Felix Bautista (elbow) on the 60-day injured list on Wednesday to make room for outfielder Peyton Burdick, who was acquired in a trade from the Miami Marlins in exchange for cash considerations. Bautista emerged as one of the best closers in the game in 2023 for an Orioles team that won the American League East, but the 28-year-old reliever will miss all of the 2024 season after having Tommy John surgery in October. It was recently announced that he also had a right-elbow debridement and an ulnar-nerve transposition last week, but the additional procedures won't change his final timeline to return by 2025. With Bautista out all of this season, the Orioles brought in veteran Craig Kimbrel to serve as their closer.

The Baltimore Orioles announced on Friday that right-handed relief pitcher Felix Bautista (elbow) had a right-elbow debridement and an ulnar-nerve transposition with Dr. Keith Meister in Dallas, Texas. The Orioles do not anticipate any changes in Bautista's overall Tommy John recovery timeline and they still expect him to return for the 2025 season. The 28-year-old will now continue to recovery from his elbow surgeries this year and will not be available to Baltimore at all this season. It's the reason why they signed veteran closer Craig Kimbrel this winter. Kimbrel will enter the 2024 campaign as the team's primary closer, with Bautista eyeing a return to the role in 2025. Before hurting his right elbow last year, Bautista had emerged as one of the best lockdown closers in the game.

Baltimore Orioles right-handed reliever Felix Bautista (elbow) said that his surgically repaired right elbow is feeling good and he's been rehabbing in Sarasota, Florida, at the team's spring training complex this offseason. Bautista's goal is to be ready for Opening Day in 2025, but if he's ahead of schedule and able to pitch late in 2024, he wants to do it. The 28-year-old had Tommy John surgery in October and can be ignored in single-year fantasy leagues, even though there's a chance he could pitch late in September if all is going great in his rehab by then. The Orioles aren't going to take any chances with their full-time closer the last couple of years, though. With Bautista on the shelf in 2024, veteran Craig Kimbrel will open the regular season as the locked-in closer for the ninth inning.

Baltimore Orioles closer Felix Bautista has been named the 2023 Mariano Rivera American League Reliever of the Year. It's a bittersweet honor for Bautista, who wasn't able to finish out the season and needed Tommy John surgery on a partially torn UCL in his right elbow. Injury aside, Bautista was a big reason why the Orioles took home the AL East title in 2023. The 28-year-old Dominican right-hander was dominant out of Baltimore's bullpen with an 8-2 record, 1.48 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, 110 strikeouts and 33 saves in 61 innings pitched in just his second major-league season. Bautista has a bright future ahead of him, but he will most likely miss all of the 2024 campaign while he recovers from Tommy John surgery.

Baltimore Orioles closer Felix Bautista (elbow) underwent successful Tommy John surgery on his right UCL on Monday in Arlington, Texas, with the surgery being performed by Dr. Keith Meister. The 28-year-old Dominican reliever was an elite fantasy closing option in 2023 for the first-place Orioles, going 8-2 with a 1.48 ERA (1.88 FIP), 0.92 WHIP, a career-high 35 saves, 26 walks and a career-high 110 strikeouts in 61 relief innings. However, the first-time All-Star went down with injury in late August and decided to undergo Tommy John surgery with his season already over. Bautista will now miss the entire 2024 season before hopefully returning as the team's primary closer once again in 2025.

Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Felix Bautista (elbow) is set to undergo Tommy John surgery, according to Nathan Ruiz. This is a shame after it appeared that Bautista was making good progress in his recovery. The 28-year-old will miss the rest of this season and the entire 2024 campaign as well. Awful news as Bautista emerged as an elite option out of the bullpen for the O's this season. It's uncertain how the team plans to address their closer situation heading into 2024. For now, Yennier Cano figures to see a majority of the save chances for the rest of this season.

Baltimore Orioles closer Felix Bautista (elbow) threw a 25-pitch simulated game on Tuesday at Camden Yards. It was the first time that Bautista has faced hitters since being diagnosed with a partially torn UCL in his right elbow last month. The Orioles haven't said what's next for the hard-throwing 28-year-old, but he could have a chance to return from the injured list before the end of the regular season this Sunday. Cionel Perez picked up Baltimore's last save on Saturday, but Yennier Cano should be the O's primary ninth-inning man until Bautista is able to return. Bautista has emerged as an elite closing option for the first-place Orioles this year and has posted a strong 8-2 record, 1.48 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, 33 saves and 110 strikeouts in just 61 innings.

Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Felix Bautista (elbow) played catch once again on Saturday and is gradually increasing the distance in which he is throwing, according to Roch Kubatko of MASN Sports. Bautista landed on the injured list back in late August with a partially torn UCL in his throwing elbow but he's been making solid progress in his rehab throwing program since then. The hard-throwing closer has a shot to make it back to the Orioles if the team makes a deep postseason run as long as he keeps progressing and doesn't suffer any setbacks.

Baltimore Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said that closer Felix Bautista (elbow) is making "great progress" with his throwing progression and has advanced to long-tossing. Bautista is currently on the injured list with a partial tear of the UCL in his right elbow and is still hoping to return before the end of the regular season. With the Orioles likely to make the postseason as well, the 28-year-old will be counted on like he has been all year to lock down games for the Orioles late. He's been excellent in his second major-league season, posting a 1.48 ERA (1.88 FIP), 0.92 WHIP, a career-high 33 saves and 110 strikeouts in 61 relief innings for the O's. Until he's back, Yennier Cano will remain Baltimore's primary closing option out of the 'pen.

Baltimore Orioles general manager Mike Elias said calling relief pitcher Felix Bautista's (elbow) injury a partial tear of his UCL would be an "accurate description." Bautista hasn't had any platelet-rich plasma injections or any other injections. Despite the bad news, Elias said the Orioles aren't closing the door on Bautista returning this year. The GM said the time of year allows the club to "take a conservative approach" and not rush into any kind of surgery. The 28-year-old closer resumed playing catch last week, but at this point, fantasy managers shouldn't expect him to help them at all to close things out. Shintaro Fujinami picked up a save last Tuesday, but Yennier Cano is the favorite for save chances the rest of the way in 2023.

Baltimore Orioles closer Felix Bautista (elbow) played catch ahead of Friday's game against the Boston Red Sox for the second time this week. While it appears to be progress made by the 28-year-old, Orioles manager Brandon Hyde deemed the session neither "positive or negative." Bautista has been on the mend since Aug. 25 with what was initially considered "arm discomfort", but O's general manager Mike Elias clarified a day later that Bautista has "some degree of injury" to the UCL in his right elbow. This "degree of injury" is yet to be elaborated on, and the 2023 All-Star remains without a return timeline as he treads water in his recovery. Fellow All-Star Yennier Cano will continue serve as Baltimore's primary fireman for however long Bautista is on the injured list.

Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Felix Bautista (elbow) has been placed on the 15-day injured list on Saturday. The right-hander was forced to exit early on Friday due to an elbow issue. The team is saying that Bautista has some degree of injury to his UCL. That being said, Bautista could very well need surgery, which could knock him out for the rest of this season and part of 2024. For now, Bautista will head to the injured list and additional testing will likely take place. DL Hall has been recalled to take the spot on the active roster. The assumption is that the southpaw could quickly work his way into a high-leverage role out of the bullpen.

Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Felix Bautista (arm) left the game early Friday night with an undisclosed injury. Arm discomfort is what it's being called. Look for more as the Orioles release information. This would be a big blow to Baltimore and fantasy managers alike. Bautista has been one of the best closers in the game. If Bautista were to miss extended time with this injury, Yennier Cano and Danny Coulombe could be in line for save chances in Baltimore.

Baltimore Orioles closer Felix Bautista pitched a clean ninth inning to pick up his 33rd save of the season on Thursday, closing out a 5-3 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays. Bautista didn't allow a hit or a walk and didn't strike out a batter in the scoreless frame. The 28-year-old just continues to roll, as he's only given up more than one earned run in a game once this season. He will probably be the first closer drafted in 2024, and for good reason.

Baltimore Orioles closer Felix Bautista had a shaky performance Thursday, but ultimately hung on for the save to give the Orioles a 5-4 win over the Houston Astros. Bautista allowed a run on two hits and two walks but managed to escape with his 31st save. He has had a rough series against Houston, allowing five earned runs, which is the same amount he had given up on the entire season prior to this series. His ERA sits at 1.66 and his WHIP is 0.98 even after the rough outings, so clearly this is just a slight misstep in what has been a tremendous season for one of the best closer's in the game.

Baltimore Orioles closer Felix Bautista had possibly his worst outing of the season in Tuesday's 7-6 loss to the Astros, blowing his sixth save and taking the loss. Bautista entered to pitch the top of the ninth up by three. He allowed a leadoff walk followed by a single, got the first out on a strikeout, allowed another single to load the bases, gave up the go-ahead grand slam, and got the second out on a strikeout before being pulled from the game. While it was a frustrating outing for fantasy managers, the 28-year-old flamethrower has been outstanding overall this season, collecting 30 saves with a 1.52 ERA and a 17.55 K/9 rate.

Baltimore Orioles closer Felix Bautista earned his 29th save of the season in Monday's 4-2 win over the Blue Jays. Bautista entered the game up by two in the eighth inning with one out and runners on first and second. He immediately got a strikeout and a flyout to end the inning and stayed on for the ninth. Bautista allowed a leadoff walk in the ninth, got the first out on a strikeout, allowed another walk, got the second out on a great outfield catch, and ended the game with a third strikeout. The 28-year-old has been fantastic this season, converting all but five save opportunities with a 0.87 ERA and 17.59 K/9 rate. His immense strikeout skills and ability to limit runs have made him one of fantasy's best closers this season.

Baltimore Orioles closer Felix Bautista spun two scoreless frames to pick up an important 4-3 extra innings victory over the Tampa Bay Rays. Bautista entered in the ninth with the game tied at 3 and simply dominated the Rays for two innings, striking out three while allowing just a hit batter to reach base. Bautista has been stellar this season and has been consistent as well, with his highest monthly ERA sitting at 1.35. He has also given up just two earned runs since May 4. Pretty incredible stuff from the big righty, who is the best closer in the game currently.

Baltimore Orioles reliever Felix Bautista earned his 26th save of the season on Wednesday when his team beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 8-5. He pitched the ninth inning, giving up one hit, but struck out one and didn't allow a run. Bautista's been nothing but phenomenal this season, posting a 1.00 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, and 50.3% strikeout rate over 45 innings, while his 26 saves rank third in all of baseball. Fantasy owners have to be happy with that kind of production, and he's definitely a must-start in all formats.

Baltimore Orioles closer Felix Bautista notched his 20th save of the season in Tuesday's 8-6 win over the Rays. Bautista entered the game up by two in the bottom of the eighth with two outs and a runner on first. He ended the inning with a lineout and stayed on to pitch the ninth. Bautista hit the leadoff batter but then got a strikeout, a fly-out, and another strikeout to end the game. The 28-year-old has been fantastic for fantasy managers this season, converting all but four save opportunities with a 1.04 ERA, 17.91 K/9 rate, and 4.41 BB/9 rate. Bautista has been a fantasy All-Star so far and should continue to serve as one on a strong O's team.