‘Sounds like it went pretty well’
Orioles closer Félix Bautista took a significant step toward a potential return this season, throwing his first bullpen session since partially tearing the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow Aug. 25 against the Colorado Rockies.
The right-hander’s throwing plans had slowly progressed from playing catch on flat ground a few times a week to throwing on back-to-back days Friday and Saturday. On Sunday, he ramped up and threw about 20 to 25 pitches in the bullpen, per manager Brandon Hyde’s estimation, while mixing in splitters and sliders before the Orioles’ 5-4 win over the Rays on Sunday.
“I think it went pretty well,” Hyde said. “That was the next step in his throwing progression so we’ll see how he feels tomorrow, just taking it day by day . ... I just ran into him after the side session and it sounds like it went pretty well, so that’s always encouraging.”
Hyde tempered his feelings of encouragement with a reminder that Bautista, 28, hasn’t yet reached the point of throwing consistent bullpen sessions or facing batters.
“But for him to be able to feel good after playing catch and after his first side, I think that’s important,” Hyde said.
Last week, executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias said the Orioles are taking a “conservative approach” by attempting to have Bautista return rather than “diving into an operative procedure.”
“I think the fact that we’re keeping him throwing right now speaks to the fact that this is not over for 2023, and it’s just going to depend on how he feels as we keep this going,” Elias said.
Bautista had been cruising on historic pace before throwing the 102.3 mph fastball that derailed his season. With an 8-2 record, the closer has recorded 33 saves with a 1.48 ERA and 16.2 strikeouts per nine innings.
Elias told reporters the organization is taking Bautista’s throwing progression “day by day,” and now there’s growing optimism of a potential return this season.
Hyde reiterated Bautista’s importance to the Orioles, who could clinch a postseason berth Sunday, calling him “the difference-maker.”
“Look at our run differentials, they’re way different because we won a lot of close games. I think Felix honestly was the difference-maker for me. He was unbelievable before he got hurt,” he said. “How many games he won us late, [Yennier] Cano, [Danny] Coulombe, Bautista at the end of a game, we played so many close games there for so long that we were able to win more than lose.”
Ryan Mountcastle update: Hyde said Ryan Mountcastle, who exited Wednesday’s game against the St. Louis Cardinals with left shoulder discomfort, “is going a little bit better” but did not say when the first baseman might return to action.
“He tried to swing yesterday a little bit; I guess that didn’t go great,” Hyde said. “He’s gonna go out and swing in the cage now. Hopefully he starts feeling better and he can be an option for us off the bench.”
Pitching probables: The Orioles listed left-hander John Means as the starter for Monday’s game against the Astros in Houston. No starter has been announced for the two following games, but if the rotation order holds, Kyle Gibson and Kyle Bradish would pitch.