Félix Bautista is expected to make his spring debut soon, and we can’t wait to see how he does.
Good morning, Camden Chatters.
The Orioles got an early reprieve in their three-day-old Grapefruit League slate yesterday, as heavy rains in Sarasota washed out their scheduled game against the Braves. The cancellation scuttled what was to be Adley Rutschman’s first appearance of the spring, and Tyler O’Neill’s Orioles debut. Those both might happen today instead, when the O’s host the Tigers at Ed Smith Stadium at 1:05. Charlie Morton is scheduled to make his first start as an Oriole.
The one spring debut that Orioles fans are most anticipating isn’t happening today, but it’s coming soon. MASN’s Roch Kubatko reports that Félix Bautista is throwing another round of live batting practice this week and will make his first Grapefruit League appearance not long after. At long last, The Mountain returns.
Bautista’s presence was sorely missed for the Orioles last season. I don’t know if a healthy Félix in 2024 would have vaulted the Birds to a division title or a deeper run in the playoffs, but I do know that the late innings of O’s games were a lot less fun to watch without him. (I don’t mean any offense to Craig Kimbrel, but…well, actually I do.) The sight of the towering Bautista utterly dominating opposing hitters was one of the most memorable things about the magical 2023 season, and if that version of The Mountain returns this year, the Orioles could have something special in store.
That’s a big “if,” of course. There’s no guarantee that Bautista will be as effective after his Tommy John surgery as he was before, and the Orioles will likely handle him with kid gloves in the early goings. They’re understandably taking things slow with Bautista leading up to Opening Day, and depending on how things develop, he might not even start the year as the primary closer.
Still, if all goes according to plan, the Orioles’ stretch run could be highlighted by a fully armed and operational Félix Bautista once again blowing the doors off of hapless hitters. It’s a delightful thought.
Links
Félix Bautista, Yennier Cano reunited in Orioles’ 2025 bullpen – MLB.com
It’s not just fans who are giddy about Bautista’s return. His bullpen BFF can’t wait to hang out with him again, because these two are just adorable.
A catcher’s perspective on 3 unique Orioles pitchers – The Baltimore Banner
Maverick Handley is the ultimate hype man. He’s got me fired up about three minor league pitchers who I had not previously given any thought to.
Baker making slight change to off-speed pitch – School of Roch
I am well past the point of trying to get excited about Bryan Baker. But if this tweak to his changeup helps him in some way, I won’t complain.
Can Orioles have both Rutschman and Basallo as catchers? | MAILBAG – BaltimoreBaseball.com
Why not? Nothing wrong with having two quality catchers. Sure beats having to put a light-hitting backup in the lineup for a couple of games every week.
Orioles to face Nationals in exhibition game March 24 – The Baltimore Sun
If you’re a local fan who wants to attend an O’s game before their home opener March 31, you might find this to your liking.
Orioles birthdays and history
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! Two former Orioles were born on Feb. 25: right-hander Dave Vineyard (84) and the late lefty Kevin Hickey (b. 1956, d. 2012).
On this date in 1975, the O’s traded longtime slugger and Orioles Hall of Famer Boog Powell to Cleveland, ending his 14-year tenure in Baltimore. Boog bashed 303 homers in his Orioles career, third-most in franchise history, and was the AL MVP in 1970 when the O’s won their second World Series. The 33-year-old Powell had a solid season for Cleveland after the trade but quickly fell off the table after that.
On this day in 2016, the O’s signed veteran righty Yovani Gallardo to a two-year, $22 million contract, restructuring their original 3/$35 million agreement after concerns over Gallardo’s physical. They would have been better off canceling the deal outright, as Gallardo struggled to a 5.42 ERA in 23 starts in one season before the O’s dumped him on the Mariners.
And on this date in 2017, the Orioles lost first baseman Christian Walker on waivers to the Braves. It didn’t seem like a big deal at the time, as Walker was a questionable prospect and the Birds had Chris Davis signed long-term as their first baseman (and what could go wrong with that?). Walker was even waived two more times within a month after the O’s lost him. But he ended up in Arizona and emerged as a late-blooming star, socking 95 homers in the past three seasons, winning three Gold Gloves, and landing a three-year, $60 million deal with the Astros this winter.