The Rise of the Closer: Félix Bautista

100 mph heat comes off the ball at the top of the zone leaving the hands of Félix Bautista at approximately seven feet off the ground. Known for being the Orioles' steadfast relief pitcher, Bautista leaves opposing batters feeling the exact opposite -- distress, discomfort, and pure aggravation -- in the eighth and ninth innings.

“I didn’t play [baseball] but my friends played in a league,” said Bautista, reflecting on his childhood in the Dominican Republic. “They would all leave and I would stay alone in the neighborhood. I didn’t have anyone to play with. I told my mom that I wanted to sign up to play, and she told me yes and that she supported me.”

Affectionately nicknamed “The Mountain,” standing at six foot eight inches, 285 pounds, the 28-year-old Dominican native has had a long winding journey from practicing hard at 11 years old to joining the Dominican Summer League to earning an All-Star Game appearance this year.

Bautista’s consistency and dominance have now inserted him into the American League Cy Young award discussion. Only nine relievers have won the award since its inception in 1956, the latest coming in 2003.

Since making his debut on April 10, 2022, Bautista has established himself as one of the best relievers in Major League Baseball. As of Friday, August 18, he is tied for the American League lead and tied for third in MLB with 32 saves this season. He has secured a win or save in 39 of his 52 appearances this year, which would be the third-highest percentage (75%) in O's history since 1954.

Bautista's 16.95 K/9 (108 K/226 BFP) would be the best by a qualified reliever in Orioles history.

He is looking to become the seventh Oriole in team history to lead the league in saves and the first since Zack Britton locked down 47 games in 2016. As of August 18,Bautista’s 108 strikeouts are more than 12 qualified pitchers, per STATS. He is the seventh O's reliever to reach 100 strikeouts in a season and the first since B.J. Ryan fanned 100 in 2005.

“It’s a really strong responsibility pitching in the ninth inning,” said Bautista. “You know with any error, or with any bad pitch that one makes it can cost us the game. Going to attack the hitters and get out of there as quickly as possible without letting them get on base is my mentality when I enter the game.”

Bautista’s hard work has not gone unnoticed, as he was named the AL Reliever of the Month for April, June, and July this season. He is the only reliever in Orioles history to win this award multiple times.

Fans can celebrate Bautista’s historical season on August 26, when the O’s take on the Colorado Rockies, and the first 20,000 fans ages 15 and over get their very own Félix Bautista Bobblehead.