Orioles’ bullpen roles for 2025

The projected Orioles bullpen for 2025 is a more experienced and decorated group than the one that began 2024.

The biggest addition will be the return of Félix Bautista, their exceptional closer who had Tommy John surgery in October 2023, three months after his All-Star Game appearance.

Another addition is Andrew Kittredge, who signed as a free agent and was an American League All-Star in 2021.

Two others — Yennier Cano and Gregory Soto — also have been All-Stars. Cano was chosen along with Bautista in 2023, and Soto was an All-Star with the Detroit Tigers in 2021 and 2022.

Let’s project the bullpen’s roles for 2025:

Félix Bautista

If Bautista is healthy, he returns to his ninth-inning role, where he dominated for more than three-quarters of the 2023 season.

Bautista’s numbers were amazing — a 1.48 ERA, only 30 hits allowed in 61 innings and, most impressive of all, he struck out 110 of 237 batters faced.

Andrew Kittredge

Kittredge has only 16 saves in eight seasons. Last year, he appeared in a career-high 74 games with St. Louis, struck out 67 in 70 2/3 innings and walked 20. But he had only one save because the Cardinals’ closer was Ryan Helsley, who led the majors with 49 saves.

Ideally, Kittredge would pitch the eighth inning, setting up Bautista for the ninth. Last season, Kittredge had a 2.04 ERA in the eighth and 1.59 ERA in six ninth-inning outings.

In his career, Kittredge has a 3.29 ERA in the seventh, 3.49 in the eighth, and though he’s never been a full-time closer, a 1.99 ERA in the ninth. Perhaps manager Brandon Hyde will use Kittredge in the ninth when Bautista isn’t available.

Yennier Cano

Cano has 13 saves. In 2023, he had eight but had a much better ERA in the eighth (1.83) than the ninth (3.80). He was superb in the seventh, not allowing an earned run in 11 innings.

Last season, when Cano’s ERA rose from 2.11 to 3.15, he was better in the ninth (2.31) than the seventh (2.95) or eighth (2.57). In the eighth inning, Cano struck out nearly four times as many batters as he walked (35/9).

Seranthony Domínguez

The Orioles began 2024 with Craig Kimbrel as their closer. He was fine in the first half, but when he faltered after the All-Star break, the Orioles acquired two experienced relievers in Dominguez and Soto from the Philadelphia Phillies.

Dominguez was the de facto closer for the last two months of 2024 and had 10 saves. However, he also gave up six home runs in 22 2/3 innings.

He’s been most effective in the seventh inning with a lifetime 3.09 ERA and more than four times as many strikeouts as walks (69/17). The ninth inning has been a struggle for Domínguez, who has a 3.82 ERA.

Gregory Soto

Soto is one of three left-handers in the projected bullpen and his 5.09 ERA with the Orioles was deceiving. He allowed eight runs while recorded two outs in two of his first three appearances and gave up just two runs in the other 21.

Historically, his worst inning has been the eighth with a 4.60 ERA, and his best the seventh (2.54). In 29 games when he’s pitched in the sixth, his ERA is 7.52; in the ninth, it’s 3.41.

Cionel Pérez

The left-hander didn’t allow a home run in 2024, but his ERA was 4.53, the highest in his three years with the Orioles. In 2022, he had a 1.70 ERA, and in 2023, it was 3.54 but 2.35 in the second half.

Pérez has a career 6.35 ERA in the sixth, 3.43 in the seventh, 3.03 in the eighth and 2.70 in the ninth.

Keegan Akin

Akin, the bullpen’s third lefty, had his best season in 2024 when he had a 3.32 ERA in 78 2/3 innings.

He was excellent in the seventh and eighth innings (2.25 and 1.77), and not as effective in the sixth (5.14) and ninth (4.26).

I’m assuming Albert Suárez will be the eighth pitcher in the bullpen, but he threw only 11 2/3 innings in relief.

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