The Orioles placed Bautista (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Wednesday.

EDGE Analysis

Bautista will miss the entire 2024 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in October followed by a right elbow debridement and an ulnar nerve transposition procedure last week. Baltimore brought in veteran right-hander Craig Kimbrel on a one-year, $13 million contract in December and will install him as the closer this season while Bautista completes his rehab.

Bautista underwent a right elbow debridement and an ulnar nerve transposition Friday, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The first part of the operation cleaned up scar tissue in the elbow, while the second moved the nerve to free it up from compression. While not routine, follow-up procedures are sometimes needed for pitchers recovering from Tommy John surgery. Bautista's recovery is going well and the Orioles do not expect his readiness for the 2025 campaign to be affected.

Bautista (elbow) on Tuesday wouldn't rule out the possibility of returning before the end of the 2024 season, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Bautista underwent Tommy John surgery in October, so the odds of him making it back at any point in 2024 are slim, if not non-existent. The goal remains for the reliever to be ready for the start of the 2025 season. Craig Kimbrel is slated to serve as the Orioles' closer while Bautista rehabs.

Bautista (elbow) underwent successful Tommy John surgery in Arlington, Texas on Monday.

EDGE Analysis

As the Orioles' American League Division Series shifts to Texas for Game 3 on Tuesday, Bautista traveled with the team and had his procedure performed by the Rangers' team physician, Dr. Keith Meister, who is also one of the foremost orthopedic surgeons for elbow reconstructions. A first-time All-Star in 2023, Bautista had arguably emerged as MLB's top closer before throwing his last pitch in late August, as he had compiled a 1.48 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and 110:26 K:BB to go with 33 saves in 39 chances over 61 innings. He's expected to remain out through the entire 2024 season before returning as a full participant for spring training in 2025 if he endures no setbacks in his recovery from surgery.

Bautista (elbow) will undergo Tommy John surgery in October, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Bautista's 1.48 ERA, 33 saves and 46.4 percent strikeout rate helped the Orioles get back to the playoffs this season, but he won't get to be part of the roster as they push to make their first World Series since 1983. Tommy John surgery seemed possible when Bautista was first diagnosed with a UCL injury back in late August, but the fact that he quickly resumed throwing and had recently advanced to a 25-pitch simulated game seemed to indicate that he'd avoided serious injury. Instead, he'll miss not only this year's playoffs but the entirety of next season as well. In less significant news, he also signed a two-year contract extension, per Steve Melewski of MASNSports.com, buying out his first year of arbitration and giving him peace of mind as he recovers. Yennier Cano will continue handling closer duties in his absence.

Bautista (elbow) threw a 25-pitch simulated game Tuesday, Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun reports.

EDGE Analysis

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde had revealed previously that Bautista would be throwing, and now we know he faced hitters for the first time since he was diagnosed with a partially torn UCL in his right elbow a month ago. The 28-year-old threw fastballs and off-speed pitches in the session and appeared to come out of it with no issues. According to Cordell Woodland of 105.7 The Fan Baltimore, Hyde also acknowledged the clock is ticking for Bautista to be activated before the end of the season, and the right-hander may need to see game action soon if that's to come to fruition.

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde told Dani Wexelman of MLB Network Radio that Bautista (elbow) will throw again Tuesday.

EDGE Analysis

"He's feeling good," Hyde said. "He's going to throw today, we're just monitoring it right now. I'm know we're running out of time a little bit. That's the only update I can give. We'll see how he is tomorrow, if he throws well today we'll continue to progress it. But he hasn't thrown enough, he's had about a month off. We only have six games left...depending on how he feels, there is an injury in there, we wanna be smart." Hyde doesn't appear to be terribly optimistic that Bautista could return before the end of the regular season, although the reliever has seemingly already progressed more quickly than expected from his UCL tear so nothing can be ruled out. Ultimately, the Orioles' main goal figures to be getting Bautista back for the postseason, but there remains work to be done.

Bautista (elbow) threw a bullpen session Sunday in Baltimore, Nathan Ruiz of The Baltimore Sun reports.

EDGE Analysis

It was his first mound workout since he was diagnosed three weeks ago with a partial tear of the UCL in his right elbow. Bautista appeared to be using his entire arsenal, per Ruiz, which is another encouraging development as the 28-year-old aims to return to the Orioles' active roster prior to the end of the regular season. Yennier Cano has been filling in as the O's primary closer.

Bautista (elbow) threw long-toss Friday in Baltimore, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Bautista has been sidelined since late August due to a partial tear of the UCL in his right elbow, but he's been making steady progress and is aiming to return at some point before the end of the regular season. He'll probably have to advance to mound work within the next week to achieve that goal. Yennier Cano is currently positioned as the Orioles' primary closer.

General manager Mike Elias confirmed Monday that Bautista (elbow) is dealing with a partial tear of his UCL, but the Orioles maintain hope that the right-hander will be able to pitch again in 2023, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Though the Orioles plan to take a conservative approach with Bautista's recovery from the acute ligament injury, he's already resumed playing catch and hasn't required any platelet-rich plasma injections for his right elbow, per Nathan Ruiz of The Baltimore Sun. Elias suggested that the Orioles will continue to see how Bautista's elbow responds as the All-Star closer gradually ramps up the intensity of his throwing, but the 28-year-old is without a clear target date to return from the 15-day injured list. Additionally, Elias noted that surgery isn't necessarily off the table for Bautista, but the Orioles are likely to wait until the offseason before exploring any potential procedure.