Bautista Shines Amid Struggles in Orioles’ Season

DETROIT — Following a turbulent start to the season, Baltimore Orioles reliever Félix Bautista has emerged as a standout despite the team’s struggles. In a nail-biting game on April 24, 2025, Bautista secured his first save of the season, fending off the Washington Nationals as he inherited a one-run lead with the tying run on third base.

“When you pitch in those types of situations, it gets a different emotion going, a different feeling going through your body,” Bautista said through interpreter Brandon Quinones. His performance was a significant moment for the Orioles, who sought to revitalize their campaign after a rocky start that had seen them at 10-14 ahead of a doubleheader against the Detroit Tigers.

Despite facing missed opportunities and earlier injury setbacks, Bautista’s velocity has seen improvement. Though he has yet to reach his peak of triple digits, he consistently clocked in at 98 mph during his save at Nationals Park. Over his first three save situations this season, he has yet to allow a run.

Though Bautista’s outings have included some command issues, he feels optimistic about his performance thus far. “It’s just a matter of continuing the process and trusting your work, and sure enough, it’ll return to form,” he said.

The Baltimore bullpen as a whole has been a bright spot for the team, boasting a collective ERA of 4.48. If one were to exclude the runs allowed by position players Jorge Mateo and Gary Sánchez in a recent blowout, the reliever ERA drops to 3.65. However, on the flip side, the Orioles have encountered significant problems with their starting rotation and lineup, positioning them below .500 early in the season.

Bautista’s recent performances exemplify his resilience, highlighted by his growing mastery of his slider, which he has doubled in usage from a year ago. Manager Brandon Hyde has expressed a cautious approach toward Bautista’s usage and plans to limit back-to-back innings until later in the season as he works back to full form.

Looking ahead, the Orioles hope Bautista’s upward trajectory can lead to better outcomes for the team amid a string of challenges. With performance issues mounting, the team’s focus remains on evolving their overall play while relying on standout talents like Bautista to anchor the bullpen.