The most important aspect of spring training is keeping players healthy or helping them recover. Monday’s otherwise inconsequential spring training game between the Orioles and Red Sox provided a significant moment for Baltimore, as Félix Bautista took the mound for the first time since undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2023.
Bautista entered in the fifth inning after Charlie Morton and Tomoyuki Sugano had each thrown two scoreless frames. While his three-up, three-down inning came against a weaker spring training lineup, the key takeaway was that he pitched well and appeared to be in good form. That’s what really matters.
According to The Baltimore Sun’s Matt Weyrich, Bautista’s fastball sat at 96-97 mph, while his splitter was mostly in the 86-87 mph range. After the game, Bautista expressed confidence that he would reach 99-100 mph by Opening Day.
Manager Brandon Hyde emphasized that the team will be cautious with Bautista, limiting him to single-inning appearances and avoiding back-to-back outings. While this will challenge the bullpen, it’s a far better scenario than not having Bautista available at all.
After his inning, MASN cameras caught an emotional Bautista in the dugout, reflecting on his long road back. “(My first outing is) something I thought about every day,” he said through an interpreter. He was also greeted with a hug from Adley Rutschman—still a heartwarming moment.
As for the game itself, the Orioles built a 5-0 lead through five innings. Rutschman opened the scoring with a first-inning home run, a promising sign considering he struggled from the left side last season (.631 OPS). Heston Kjerstad also stood out, reaching base twice and scoring two runs. During the broadcast, GM Mike Elias mentioned that Kjerstad will see plenty of at-bats as both an outfielder and designated hitter this season.
The Red Sox closed the gap in the seventh, as Roansy Contreras—who is out of minor league options—gave up four runs, including two home runs, in one inning. The Orioles added another run in the bottom of the frame to make it 6-4, but reliever Yaqui Rivera allowed two more, leading to a 6-6 final score.
Before the game, Hyde provided injury updates on other Orioles. Jordan Westburg, sidelined with a back issue, could return Wednesday, while Gunnar Henderson is improving from right-side soreness. With a scheduled day off on Tuesday, the team hopes for further positive news.