The Baltimore Orioles reinstated closer Félix Bautista from the 60-day injured list on Saturday, September 19, 2026, as right-hander Ryan Helsley was shut down for the remainder of the season with elbow inflammation ahead of the team’s game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Camden Yards.
Félix Bautista Returns to Baltimore After Fourteen Months
The return of Félix Bautista marks a major milestone for the Orioles’ bullpen as the club fights for a postseason berth in the final week of the regular season. Bautista was reinstated prior to Baltimore’s game versus Milwaukee after completing a lengthy recovery from right shoulder surgery that sidelined him for more than a year.
His previous major league appearance occurred on July 20, 2025, when he recorded his 19th save of that season in a victory over Tampa Bay. Shortly after, shoulder problems forced him to the injured list, and he underwent surgery on August 19, 2025, to repair a torn rotator cuff and a torn labrum. That procedure followed an elbow-reconstructive surgery in October 2023 that had already erased his 2024 campaign.
Before injuries interrupted his career, the 6-foot-8 right-hander established himself as one of the most dominant relievers in the majors. Across his 2022 debut and the 2023 season, Bautista posted a 1.85 ERA with a league-leading 40.4% strikeout rate over 126 2/3 innings, collecting 33 saves in 2023 alone while earning an All-Star selection and the American League Reliever of the Year award.
During his recent minor league rehab assignment, Bautista made nine relief appearances, including eight at Triple-A Norfolk where he posted a 2.35 ERA with nine strikeouts and four walks over 7 2/3 frames.
Couldn’t be more excited to have Félix back.
Craig Albernaz, manager, via MLB.com
When asked whether Bautista would immediately step back into the ninth-inning role, Orioles manager Craig Albernaz noted that the coaching staff intends to monitor his workload carefully.
“We’re going to try to be as smart as we can with using Félix, but also, the game is chaotic and unpredictable, so you don’t know what’s going to happen.”
Craig Albernaz, manager, via MLB.com
Ryan Helsley Shut Down for the Remainder of 2026
While the bullpen gains its primary closer back, the Orioles simultaneously lost the pitcher brought in to shoulder that load during Bautista’s absence. President of baseball operations Mike Elias announced on Saturday that Ryan Helsley will not pitch again in 2026 as he continues dealing with right elbow inflammation.
The Orioles signed Helsley to a two-year, $28 million contract in free agency last December to fill the closer vacancy while Bautista recovered. However, two separate injured list stints limited the 32-year-old right-hander to just 17 appearances and 15 1/3 innings, during which he recorded eight saves and a 4.11 ERA with nine walks and 21 strikeouts.
Helsley made his first minor league rehab appearance at Triple-A Norfolk on September 12, working a 1-2-3 inning. Ultimately, with only eight games remaining in the regular season entering Saturday, the organization decided against rushing his return.
Elias explained the rationale behind ending the right-hander’s season during his media session on Saturday afternoon.
“With the calendar where we’re at, we got to the point where we had to kind of decide whether to push the envelope a little bit and compress his time between outings and ramp him up and get ready for the big league level. Taking a look at that and just taking everything into account, we decided that might not be the wisest play. So, we’re going to shut him down, basically, and conclude his season. He’s healthy. We want to gear him toward 2027 at this point.”
Mike Elias, president of baseball operations, via MLB.com
Roster Moves and Tyler O’Neill Out for the Season
To create space on the active and 40-man rosters for Bautista’s return, Baltimore executed several corresponding transactions ahead of the weekend series. Left-hander Cade Povich, who made a spot start in Friday’s 6-5, 10-inning loss to Milwaukee, was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk.
Outfielder Tyler O’Neill was transferred from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day injured list, officially ending his 2026 campaign after his injured right shoulder failed to respond to baseball activities earlier in the month.
Additionally, the Orioles reinstated outfielder Christian Franklin from the injured list following a absence due to left hand inflammation, while outfielder Heston Kjerstad was optioned down to Triple-A Norfolk.
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