Orioles All-Star closer Felix Bautista undergoes two procedures

Field Level Media|published: Sat 10th February, 16:16 2024

Aug 25, 2023; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Felix Bautista (74) slips while throwing a ninth inning pitch against the Colorado Rockies at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. credits: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Baltimore Orioles All-Star closer Felix Bautista underwent two procedures on his pitching elbow Friday, but the club said it won't hinder his projected 2025 return from Tommy John surgery.

Bautista, who underwent the major surgery on his right arm in October, had elbow debridement and ulnar nerve transposition procedures performed on Friday in Dallas. The procedures cleaned out scar tissue and moved the nerve to avoid compression.

Bautista, 28, injured his right ulnar collateral ligament in a game against the Colorado Rockies on Aug. 25 and missed the rest of the 2023 season.

Before the injury, Bautista was selected for the All-Star Game and was perhaps the most dominant closer in the majors. He went 8-2 with 33 saves, a 1.48 ERA and 0.918 WHIP. He struck out 110 in just 61 innings.

In 121 relief appearances over two seasons with Baltimore, Bautista is 12-6 with a 1.85 ERA, 0.924 WHIP, 48 saves and 198 strikeouts in 126 2/3 innings.

—Field Level Media