Felix Bautista Begins Rehab Assignment, First Game Action in 13 Months
The Orioles closer has started a rehab assignment after shoulder surgery, returning to game action for the first time in 13 months.
Felix Bautista is pitching in games again.
The Baltimore closer began a rehab assignment, per Jake Rill at MLB.com, marking his first competitive game action in 13 months following shoulder surgery. For a bullpen that has been reshuffled considerably during his absence, the development is about as significant as roster news gets.
What we know
Bautista is on a rehab assignment and has appeared in at least one game. The 13-month gap between his last MLB outing and this rehab start underscores how long Baltimore has been managing its late-inning situation without him.
What remains unconfirmed
No timetable for a return to the active roster has been reported. How many rehab appearances he'll need, how his stuff looks, and when — or whether — he rejoins the big-league club this season are all open questions.
The broader picture
Baltimore has been active around its roster in recent days. Samuel Basallo was activated off the IL and is now playing daily, and lefty prospect Luis De Leon is transitioning to a bullpen role with a potential call-up to the club for the stretch run. Bautista's rehab adds another thread worth tracking as the Orioles navigate the final weeks of the season.
For now, the Mountain is back on a mound. The rest is still being written.
More on the Orioles wire.
Felix Bautista Begins Rehab Assignment, First Game Action in 13 Months
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