Orioles right-hander Félix Bautista allowed two runs on three hits in one inning of work against the Pirates in Bradenton on March 10, but he came away from the outing satisfied with how he is progressing after missing all of last season due to Tommy John surgery.
Bautista retired three batters in order against the Red Sox on March 3, but his last two appearances have been a little bumpier (three runs in two innings). However, his velocity trended in the right direction against the Pirates, a positive sign for Bautista and the club.
“It was excellent for me,” Bautista said after his outing in Bradenton through interpreter Brandon Quinones. “I feel like I was able to accomplish what I wanted to, and I’m really content with the way the entire outing went.”
Bautista threw 24 pitches against the Pirates, hitting 98.5 mph on his 14th pitch and 98.0 mph on his 18th. That’s a good sign for the 6-foot-8, 285-pound right-hander, who averaged 99.5 mph on the fastball in 2023 prior to suffering a UCL tear that required Tommy John surgery.
Bautista is comfortable with where his velocity sits with two-plus weeks until the start of the regular season.
“In spring trainings past, I would progressively throw harder and harder leading up to Opening Day, and I feel like that’s what’s happening now,” Bautista said. “Once I got to Opening Day, it felt like the adrenaline would kick in and that’s where I would reach those high velos. I’m hoping now that that will continue to be the same.”
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said before the ballgame that the club is still in wait-and-see mode regarding Bautista’s status for Opening Day. The Orioles are monitoring how he feels the day after every outing and will err on the side of caution if they have any doubts about whether he is ready for regular-season ball.
Just 12 of Bautista’s 24 pitches were strikes against the Pirates, so command is still a work in progress.
“I thought he got a little bit better as the inning went along, still kind of feeling his way through for me,” Hyde said. “That’s his third outing in a year-plus. We’re watching him closely. The velo ticked up a little bit as the inning went along. This is his spring training. I know he felt great coming off the mound, so that’s all that matters right now.”
Of the 24 pitches Bautista threw, 15 were identified by Statcast as sinkers, six as splitters and three as sliders (Statcast calls Bautista’s fastball a sinker). However, Bautista said after the game that he actually mixed in two cutters against the Pirates.
Five of Bautista’s splitters were balls, not surprising since it’s such a feel pitch. It can be difficult to command, even for pitchers in midseason form.
“It was a little difficult at first, but I feel like I’ve finally reached the comfortability of throwing the splitter again,” Bautista said. “This offseason I also added the cutter, which I’m incorporating and I’m feeling really good about it as well.”
Bautista, 29, was baseball’s best closer in 2023 prior to his injury, blowing away hitters with high-octane stuff in the ninth inning. He posted a 1.48 ERA in 61 innings (56 appearances), striking out 110 hitters en route to 33 saves. It’ll be a process to fully regain that form, with the club likely to shy away from outings in back-to-back days, at least in the early going.
Overall, though, Bautista is right where he needs to be.
“Really happy with Félix and how everything’s progressed,” Hyde said. “The work that he’s put in has been unbelievable. He’s got an incredible attitude and he’s got a lot of confidence, so just got to keep throwing him out there.”
See Also:
• So Far, So Good For Orioles RHP Tomoyuki Sugano
• Orioles RHP Grayson Rodriguez Shut Down For 7-10 Days With Elbow Inflammation
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