Orioles Get Devastating News on Closer Felix Bautista

After missing the entire 2024 season recovering from Tommy John surgery, Baltimore Orioles closer Felix Bautista has now received the devastating news that he will miss the entire 2026 season after undergoing shoulder surgery for a torn rotator cuff and torn labrum.

The Orioles announced that Felix Bautista is expected to miss the next 12 months after having shoulder surgery yesterday pic.twitter.com/LNImLJlVMH
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) August 20, 2025

The surgery took place on Tuesday, and was performed in Los Angeles by noted surgeon Dr. Neal ElAttrache. He will be out "12 months", which pretty much wipes out next season.

Bautista was only back on the mound for Baltimore this season for 35 games, recording 19 saves with a 2.60 ERA and 13 K/9.

In 2023, Bautista won the Mariano Rivera American League Reliever of the Year Award, even though he missed the month of September with a partially torn UCL in his elbow. He recorded 33 saves and a 1.48 ERA, helping lead Baltimore to 101 wins.

This season, Bautista had to shut it down on July 23rd with a shoulder issue, and he was declared out with 'inflammation" in his throwing shoulder. A few weeks later, it was determined that the injury was too significant for him to return in 2025, but the news this week that he'll miss another full year is a tough one to take.

The 6'8", 280-pounder, nicknamed The Mountain, will have a steep mountain to climb to make it all the way back once again, in time for the 2027 season.