BALTIMORE — All-Megastar reliever Félix Bautista was once positioned at the 15-day injured checklist Saturday by means of the Baltimore Orioles, who can best hope his ill elbow received’t conserve him sidelined for the remainder of the season.
“Early indications are he has some degree of injury to the ulnar collateral ligament,” Orioles normal supervisor Mike Elias mentioned. “We have not firmed down any timetable or anything of that nature.”
Despite the fact that a UCL trauma can supremacy to Tommy John surgical procedure, Elias expressed hope that the staff’s nearer can go back to backup the AL East leaders keep a playoff berth or most likely grant support within the playoffs.
If no longer, later the Orioles merely should advance with out him.
“A Félix Bautista absence, even if it’s a short one, is not something that’s easy to cover. He’s the best reliever in baseball right now,” Elias mentioned. “But we do have many talented arms.”
The trauma took place Friday evening in Baltimore’s 5-4 victory over Colorado. Bautista retired the primary two batters within the 9th inning and had a 2-2 rely on Michael Toglia prior to the right-hander walked off the mound in visible discomfort following his twelfth tone.
Next being tested by means of staff running shoes, Bautista left the sport.
Elias believes the trauma took place on that ultimate tone and was once no longer the results of throwing in discomfort.
“I don’t want to speculate, but it looked to me like that one particular pitch might have had some unfortunate movement pattern,” the GM mentioned. “He was not having any issues prior to that pitch.”
Bautista this season has established himself as considered one of baseball’s maximum enforcing and efficient closers. The 6-foot-8, 285-pounder is nicknamed “The Mountain” as a result of his dimension, and his fastball often is clocked in profusion of 100 mph.
Bautista took the loss for the AL All-Stars in July, permitting two runs in two-thirds of an inning, however that hasn’t tarnished his accomplishments for the unexpected Orioles, who personal the second-best file within the majors (80-48 thru Friday). Bautista is 8-2 with a 1.48 ERA with 33 saves in 39 alternatives.
The 28-year-old has 110 strikeouts and simply 26 walks in 61 innings over 56 video games.
“Félix has been such a massive part of our team. Best closer in the game,” supervisor Brandon Hyde mentioned. “It’s been amazing to watch him do what he does. Last night sucked. Bottom line. Just hoping for the best for him.”
All-Megastar reliever Yennier Cano, veteran Danny Coulombe and left-handed rookie DL Corridor — who was once recalled from Triple-A Norfolk on Saturday to exchange Bautista — are amongst the ones within the bullpen who will effort to barricade for the lack of Bautista.
“The group’s going to rally around itself. We’ll figure out how to do the best we can however long his absence is,” Elias mentioned. “I’m most sad for Félix himself, because this was just a dream season he had, was having.”
The inside track comes on an evening the Orioles had been staging a Félix Bautista bobblehead giveaway, a promotion that was once anticipated to attract a abundance family for the second one recreation of the layout in opposition to the Rockies.
