Baltimore Orioles closer Félix Bautista will miss the rest of the 2025 MLB season after undergoing rotator cuff and labrum surgery, the team announced Wednesday.
Bautista, 30, was in the midst of another strong season when he was placed on the Injured List in July due to a shoulder injury. After getting the injury checked out, Bautista was diagnosed with a torn rotator cuff and torn labrum, leading to Wednesday’s procedure.
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Bautista is expected to miss at least 12 months following the surgery, which means he’ll miss most of — if not all of — the 2026 MLB season while rehabbing.
It’s the second major injury sustained by Bautista during his major-league career. He missed the entire 2024 MLB season while recovering from Tommy John surgery.
Bautista was able to return in time for the start of the 2025 MLB season and was out to a great start prior to his injury. Through 34 2/3 innings, Bautista had a 2.60 ERA and 50 strikeouts.
When healthy, Bautista has been one of the best relievers in the majors. He burst onto the scene in 2022, when he posted a 2.19 ERA as a rookie. After spending time as a late-inning reliever during his first couple months, Bautista won the closer role that August and finished the season strong.
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He was even better in 2023. Bautista held the closer role the entire season, posting a 1.48 ERA and racking up 33 saves. That performance earned him his first All-Star appearance. Late in the season, however, Bautista was shut down his elbow soreness. He eventually underwent Tommy John surgery, missing all of 2024.
While his 2025 return was a success prior to the injury, his outlook moving forward is unclear. After undergoing two major surgeries over a two-year span, Bautista will have a lot to prove the next time he steps foot on the mound.
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