BALTIMORE—Félix Bautista threw a bullpen session on Friday, and the next step in his rehabilitation from his August 2025 rotator cuff and labrum surgery will be a rehab assignment at Double-A Chesapeake.
After that, Bautista will go to Triple-A Norfolk for a few outings.
“I’m feeling good right now, thank God,” Bautista said through a team translator. “The body’s feeling great. There haven’t been any setbacks or anything like that, so I’m feeling really good.”
Bautista came back from his October 2023 Tommy John surgery, and now he’ll try to come back from another major surgery.
“It was another difficult process, considering it was almost the same timeline as Tommy John,” Bautista said. “Missing almost the same amount of time with those injuries, but I try to stay mentally strong and persevere and get through it as strong as I could.”
The 31-year-old right-hander hasn’t been in a game since a difficult inning on July 20th, 2025. He warmed up for a game in Cleveland a few days later and reported that he wasn’t right. He’s excited about a return.
“It’s something I think about all the time,” Bautista said. “Every time I step out on the field, it’s a focus of mine, doing whatever I can to get back out there as quickly as possible and get back out there feeling as strong as I possibly can.”
Bautista said that his first live batting practice was a turning point in his recovery.
“That’s when it really hit me that, we’re getting close,” he said. “I started to feel really excited and happy that I’d be able to return soon.”
In 2023, Bautista threw over 100 mph regularly and struck out 110 batters in 61 innings.
“I’m not really focused on the velocity right now,” Bautista said. “My focus is on doing whatever I can to stay healthy, be healthy, so that when I return I can stay healthy and do what I can to contribute. I know that in due time, the velocity will come back. It’s going to take some time, but it’s not a focus of mine right now. All I want to do is be healthy and make sure that once I come back, I can stay healthy.”
When Bautista comes back, it will be without Adley Rutschman as his catcher.
“I didn’t feel the impact as much because I wasn’t here,” he says. “I was in Sarasota, but I’m definitely going to miss him a lot.”
Orioles designate Suárez, recall Nunez
The Orioles designated 36-year-old right-hander Albert Suárez for assignment. It was the fourth time this season, he’d been DFA’d by the Orioles. Each time he re-signed with the team after declining a minor league assignment.
Suárez was 2-0 with a 3.93 ERA and a save in 25 games. On Thursday night, he allowed a run on three hits in two innings.
“It’s extremely tough,” manager Craig Albernaz said. “It’s never easy, especially the person he is, the teammate he is. It’s tough to find a better person and teammate in this game. He’s so selfless in the ‘pen. What we asked him do as far as pitch length and in the back end of games, and be able to go back out a day later or two days later.”
The Orioles recalled Anthony Nunez from Triple-A Norfolk. This will be the 25-year-old right-hander’s third stint with the team.
“Chris Bassitt told me this is a league that you’re forever adjusting,” Nunez said. “And it’s having to make adjustments quicker than I did.”
He’s 3-2 with a 4.60 ERA and three saves in 40 games.
“With the shape of the ‘pen, we had to make a move, and it’s good to get Nunez back,” Albernaz said. “He was working on being more efficient down in Triple-A. Hopefully we get the best version of him.”
Albernaz agrees with the observation that Suárez could be a pitching coach after his playing career.
“In my opinion, there’s still a lot left in the tank,” Albernaz said. “He has the personality traits, the care level, the demeanor, the attention to detail, and the love of the game that he could be a really great coach. Whatever he decides to do, post-playing, he’ll be great at. He’s just one of the those special people.”
Helsley’s return is uncertain
Closer Ryan Helsley, who’s on the 60-day injured list with right elbow discomfort, hasn’t pitched since June 27th, and Albernaz didn’t sound optimistic about his return this season.
Helsley is 0-4 with eight saves and a 4.11 ERA in 17 games this season. This is the 32-year-old right-hander’s second stint on the IL with an elbow injury.
“That’s a great question,” Albernaz said. “Right now, it’s just taking it day-by-day with Hels, see how he’s feeling. He was throwing. He’s on top of his body. He’s doing what he can and what he’s capable of right now, following with our medical staff. They’re doing a great job with him. When Helsley’s back, he’s back.”
Wells, Mateo back in Baltimore
Tyler Wells, who was traded to Tampa Bay for right-handed pitching prospect Michael Forret on August 3rd, is back in Baltimore for the first time since the trade.
“It’s crazy. It’s a little weird,” Wells said. “Being on this side and staring at the Warehouse instead of starting at the Hilton is a little different … It’s different, and it’s a little bit of a shock.”
Wells had been an active player longer than anyone else when he was traded, something he didn’t anticipate.
“It was a possibility, but it wasn’t expected,” Wells said. “The night before the trade deadline, we didn’t hear anything. We didn’t think anything was going to happen, and then an hour before the deadline, the phone started ringing. It happened all within about five minutes. It wasn’t expected, but it didn’t catch us by surprise.”
Wells, who faced the Orioles twice last weekend at Tropicana Field, and other former Orioles Bryan Baker, Jorge Mateo and Cedric Mullins are with Tampa Bay.
“A lot of that will bring you back to the ’23 Orioles,” Wells said. “It’s like we never skipped a beat.”
It’s Mateo’s second time back since leaving the Orioles after last season. He was here with the Atlanta Braves late last month.
“It’s outstanding, man,” Mateo said of playing with the former Orioles. “I played with those guys a lot. Playing together means a lot, too.”
Orioles-Rays lineups:
Orioles
Jackson Holliday-2B
Pete Alonso-1B
Gunnar Henderson-SS
Tyler O’Neill-RF
Samuel Basallo-C
Dylan Beavers-LF
Coby Mayo-3B
Colton Cowser-CF
Leody Taveras-RF
Trevor Rogers-LHP
Rays
Yandy Diaz-DH
Jonny DeLuca-CF
Junior Caminero-3B
Ryan Vilade-RF
Chandler Simpson-LF
Jorge Mateo-2B
Kenny Piper-C
Liam Hicks-1B
Taylor Walls-SS
Freddy Peralta-RHP
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