The Orioles will again experience life without closer Félix Bautista.

Bautista underwent shoulder surgery yesterday to repair a torn rotator cuff and labrum. The club announced that Dr. Neal ElAttrache handled the procedure in Los Angeles and termed it "successful."

That last part is the only positive news. A season that's brought tremendous disappointment just delivered another devastating blow.

The initial prognosis on Bautista is a recovery period that will sideline him for at least the next 12 calendar months. A second full season is expected to proceed without him. He missed 2024 after recovering from ligament-reconstructive surgery in his right elbow.

Today's update wasn't unexpected but still hit hard. It's grossly unfair to the 2023 All-Star reliever and to the Orioles, who again must search for a closer during the offseason. They tried veteran Craig Kimbrel last year, offering a $12 million contract and releasing him in September with a 5.33 ERA over 57 appearances.

Bautista developed into one of baseball’s most dominant closers in 2023 with 33 saves, a 1.48 ERA and 0.918 WHIP in 56 appearances, and 110 strikeouts over 61 innings, production that led to an 11th-place finish in American League Cy Young voting and selection for the Mariano Rivera American League Reliever of the Year award. He was an intimidating figure with a fastball that routinely hit triple digits. But Bautista didn’t pitch after Aug. 25, getting within an out of another save against the Rockies and exiting with elbow pain that forced his surgery.

The long road back led Bautista to the Opening Day roster this year, with the Orioles spacing out his appearances at the beginning. He never regained full velocity but posted a 2.60 ERA and 19 saves in 35 games and struck out 50 batters in 34 2/3 innings.

The final appearance came on July 20 in Tampa, when Bautista recorded the save but allowed a run, walked three batters and threw a season-high 34 pitches. 

Bautista informed the Orioles on July 23 in Cleveland that he wasn’t available to pitch. Interim manager Tony Mansolino got the call in the dugout in the seventh inning.

“Right when I heard that thing ring, I told whoever was next to me, I said ‘That is not good,’” Mansolino recalled. “I didn’t know what it was or who it was, but when it came our way that wasn’t good. I heard it get slammed after and I knew it wasn’t going to be good. And it turned out to be really horrendous.” 

The Orioles put Bautista on the 15-day injured list with right shoulder discomfort, and they confirmed on Aug. 12 that he wouldn’t pitch again this season. Mansolino said Bautista wasn’t dealing with any pain during his appearances.

“There were no indications prior to the injury,” he said.

The bullpen already was going to be an offseason priority after trades that removed Bryan Baker, Seranthony Domínguez, Gregory Soto and Andrew Kittredge. Kittredge had a $9 million option on his contract and Baker remained under team control in 2026.

Mansolino has stated that the club doesn’t have a closer, and he’s recently used Keegan Akin, Corbin Martin, Dietrich Enns and Yaramil Hiraldo in the role. Hiraldo lost a 3-1 lead last night at Fenway Park after facing two batters.