TORONTO -- The velocity still wasn’t as high, but the splitter was nasty. The vibes were up.
It finally felt a bit like 2023 again on Saturday for the Orioles, who turned the ball over to Félix Bautista -- the towering 6-foot-8 right-hander fittingly known as “The Mountain” -- for the ninth inning of a close game. Everybody in Baltimore’s dugout or bullpen couldn’t help but smile.
“I got goosebumps watching him run onto the field,” right-handed reliever Yennier Cano said via team interpreter Brandon Quinones.
“That was so exciting for all of us,” manager Brandon Hyde said.
Bautista’s performance made it even more thrilling. The 29-year-old recorded three strikeouts in a scoreless frame, closing out the Orioles’ 9-5 win over the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. The All-Star hadn’t pitched in a regular-season game since Aug. 25, 2023, having missed all of the ‘24 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery.
Although it wasn’t a save situation, Hyde opted to use Bautista, the only member of the eight-man bullpen who hadn’t pitched over the first three games of the season.
“I was really waiting for this game,” Bautista said via Quinones. “I was waiting for my chance, waiting for my opportunity, just waiting for whenever my name was called.”
Hyde was hoping to find a low-stress spot for Bautista -- who pitched in six Grapefruit League games during Spring Training -- to make his regular-season return. The O’s had a four-run cushion, but the top of the Blue Jays’ lineup was looming.
Bautista struck out Nathan Lukes swinging before giving up a double to red-hot Bo Bichette. Then, Bautista punched out Vladimir Guerrero Jr. swinging.
After issuing a two-out walk to former teammate Anthony Santander, Bautista polished off his performance with a third swinging strikeout, fanning Andrés Giménez to end the game.
Bautista’s sinker, which frequently hit 100-plus mph pre-surgery, maxed out at 97.9. It often sat around 96-97 mph during the spring, though he expects it to tick up through the season.
But Bautista’s splitter was as nasty as always. He threw it six times and induced four whiffs, including the final swings on each of his strikeouts.
“We all know that’s his main pitch, his punchout pitch, and it was working today,” said Jordan Westburg, who slugged a pair of homers in support of the pitching staff. “It’s good to have the big man back, shutting down games in the ninth inning.”
As Bautista looks to be effective without dialing up his heater to triple digits, the splitter will be a key to his success, as well as his slider and the new cutter he has added to his arsenal.
“I felt a lot looser today, I think the adrenaline definitely helped,” Bautista said. “I think playing in a game that counts definitely helped me today, but I did feel really good with [the splitter].”
Bautista was dominant over his first two big league seasons. As a 27-year-old rookie in 2022, the Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, native posted a 2.19 ERA in 65 appearances, becoming the club’s closer during the second half and picking up 15 saves.
In 2023, Bautista was even better, recording a 1.48 ERA and 33 saves over 56 games.
Bautista’s absence was greatly felt in 2024, when the Orioles signed Craig Kimbrel to a one-year deal to fill in as closer. Kimbrel had a 5.33 ERA in 57 outings before he was designated for assignment in September, after which Baltimore closed by committee, often utilizing Seranthony Domínguez in the role.
“All the people in this room know what [Bautista has] gone through, and how he was itching to be a part of our team last year so badly and unable to do that,” Hyde said. “Everybody was pumped up that he was coming into the game.”
Bautista was excited, too, even if his stoic demeanor didn’t show it.
“No anxiety with him,” said Cano, Bautista’s best friend on the team. “He was very calm the entire time and very relaxed.”
Now that Bautista is back, his focus can solely be on building upon his first positive outing and trying to have another strong season.
After such a long journey while recovering, did Bautista take a moment to reflect on Saturday?
“Not yet,” Bautista said with a smile. “It all happened so fast, getting into the game, playing and then getting ready to hit the gym after my outing. So I'm sure once I get to the hotel and once I have a chance to relax and cool down, then I'll be able to reflect on it.”