| Félix Bautista | |
|---|---|
| Baltimore Orioles – No. 74 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1995-06-20)June 20, 1995 (age 30) Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| April 10, 2022, for the Baltimore Orioles | |
| MLB statistics (through 2025 season) | |
| Win–loss record | 13–7 |
| Earned run average | 2.01 |
| Strikeouts | 248 |
| Saves | 67 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
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| Career highlights and awards | |
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Félix Alexander Bautista (born June 20, 1995) is a Dominican professionalbaseballpitcher for theBaltimore Orioles ofMajor League Baseball (MLB). He signed with theMiami Marlins as an international free agent in 2012, and made his MLB debut in 2022 with the Orioles. Bautista was anAll-Star and theAmerican League Reliever of the Year in 2023. Nicknamed "The Mountain", he is one of the tallest and heaviest players in MLB, listed at 6 feet 8 inches (2.03 m) and 285 pounds (129 kg).[1][2]
Bautista signed with theMiami Marlins as an international free agent on November 19, 2012. Bautista made his professional debut for theDominican Summer League Marlins in 2013, logging a 2.73earned run average (ERA) with 17strikeouts in 11 appearances. In the summer of 2014 he contractedChikungunya, a mosquito-borne virus, which kept him out of play for three weeks and left him weakened.[3] On his return from the illness, Bautista pitched to a 12.41 ERA with seven strikeouts in12+1⁄3innings pitched across eight games. He was released by the Marlins organization on January 15, 2015.[4]
After not playing professionally in 2015, on August 4, 2016, Bautista signed a minor league contract with theBaltimore Orioles organization.[5] He was assigned to theDominican Summer League Orioles, where he made five appearances to finish the year. Bautista returned to the DSL Orioles in 2017, posting a 4–3 record and 2.01 ERA with 75 strikeouts in 15 appearances (14 of them starts). He spent the 2018 season with theGulf Coast League Orioles, pitching to a 4.33 ERA with 30 strikeouts in 27 innings of work across 12 appearances.
Bautista split the 2019 season between the Low-AAberdeen IronBirds and the Single-ADelmarva Shorebirds, accumulating a 3.44 ERA with 48 strikeouts in 26 total appearances between the two affiliates.[6] Bautista did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of theCOVID-19 pandemic.[7] He spent the 2021 season with three different Orioles affiliates: High-A Aberdeen, the Double-ABowie Baysox, and the Triple-ANorfolk Tides. In 40 appearances between the three levels, Bautista posted a stellar 1.54 ERA with 77 strikeouts in46+2⁄3 innings pitched.[8]
The Orioles added him to their 40-man roster following the 2021 season on November 19, 2021.[9] Bautista made the Opening Day roster for the Orioles out of Spring Training in 2022.[10] He made his major league debut on April 10, 2022, pitching in relief ofTyler Wells. In the game, he recorded his first major league strikeout againstTampa Bay Rays shortstopWander Franco.[11] On May 10, Bautista earned his first career save, closing out a 5–3 victory over theSt. Louis Cardinals.[12] When the Orioles tradedJorge López, Bautista succeeded him as the Orioles'closer.[13]
Bautista was named the AL Reliever of the Month for April 2023 after going 7-for-7 insave chances, striking out 25 batters in 13.2 innings pitched, and posting a 46.4% whiff rate.[14] On May 20, Bautista pitched the ninth and tenth innings of an extra-inning victory against theToronto Blue Jays, recording a career-high five strikeouts in the appearance.[15] On August 26, Bautista was placed on the injured list following aUCL injury that he suffered while pitching against theColorado Rockies the previous day.[16] On September 30, it was announced Bautista would undergoTommy John surgery, which would force him to miss the entire 2024 season. In addition, on February 9, 2024, Bautista underwent a debridement and an ulnar nerve transposition in the same elbow that had Tommy John months before.
On March 29, 2025, Bautista made his return to the mound for the first time since August 25, 2023, striking out three while allowing one walk and one hit in the Orioles' 9-5 win over theToronto Blue Jays.[17] On April 12, Bautista recorded his first save of the season and his first save since August 24, 2023, to give the Orioles a 5-4 win over the Blue Jays.[18] In 35 appearances for Baltimore, he logged a 1-1 record and 2.60 ERA with 50 strikeouts and 19 saves across34+2⁄3 innings pitched. On July 24, Bautista was placed on the injured list due to right shoulder discomfort.[19] On August 12, managerTony Mansolino announced that Bautista had suffered a "significant shoulder injury" and would miss the remainder of the season.[20] On August 20, it was announced that Bautista would be sidelined for the next 12 months after undergoing surgery to repair atorn rotator cuff and tornlabrum in his right shoulder.[21]