It’s August, and there is a little under two months of baseball left in an exciting season, one that has seen more surprises than familiar patterns and performances that have opened the eyes of fans everywhere.
From surprise teams atop divisions and new blood sniffing postseason births, this season has been one of the most exciting in baseball for quite some time. Electrifying talent is sprinkled all over the diamond nightly and every time we turn on highlights or sports updates, we are provided with another feat and reminder as to why the top one percent of players fill a major league roster.
One of the biggest surprises this season has been the Baltimore Orioles. Picked to finish last in the AL East by many sports pundits, the Birds have not only proven them wrong but currently lead the AL East by three games and are the first American League team to reach the 70-win mark.
Of course, talent like Adley Rutschman and Gunnar Henderson receive a lot of attention, but there is another player who is turning heads with one of the most impressive seasons by far. That player is Félix Bautista, known as “The Mountain” or “King Félix” to Seattle Mariner fans.
The 6’8″ hulking figure has become a national highlight reel. Whether it’s his fastball that consistently hits 100 mph, pitching more than an inning to help his team close a game or the imposing “Omar’s Whistle” light show that precedes Bautista’s appearance, the big man has gained national attention.
Bautista has amassed a 6-1 record with 30 saves (leads the AL) in 35 chances across 48 games. He has pitched 52.2 innings, allowing just 24 hits for a .133 batting average against.
Then you look at Bautista’s ERA of 0.85 and WHIP of 0.85, and you have to double-take to make sure you see it correctly. On top of that, “The Mountain” has struck out 102 batters to just 21 walks. When converted to K/9, that number becomes 17.43 batters over the course of a nine-inning game.
I know, I know, it’s his job. Relievers tend to have skewed numbers because they are only pitching one, maybe two innings. What if I told you that amongst qualifying pitchers, Bautista is tied for seventh in WAR at 3.1?
Still not impressed? The pitchers ahead of him are all starting pitchers, having pitched at least 59.2 innings more than. Bautista. He also ranks ahead of Justin Verlander, Dylan Cease, Zac Gallen, Spencer Strider and Shane McClanahan, all ace-level starting pitchers, just to name a few.
The last time a reliever won a Cy Young Award was in 2003, when Los Angeles Dodgers closer Eric Gagne stormed through the NL. He converted 55 of 55 saves, posted an ERA of 1.33 and compiled an insane WHIP of 0.69.
The last time an AL releiver won the Cy Young was back when Dennis Eckersley achieved the feat back in 1992. Since 1974, the first time a releiver won the Cy Young Award, to 2003, a total of nine releivers have won the award.
With Bautista fresh off his third AL Releiver of the Month recognition, he just goes out and shoves. Bautista has a chance to make history if he keeps his current trajectory. Of course, there is a lot of baseball left.
One thing is for sure. No matter how the season ends, you have to appreciate the sheer dominance that Félix Bautista is putting on display. In the modern era that is designed to push offense, Bautista rises above the rest.
What do you think of Félix Bautista’s season? Let us know in the comments below! Make sure to follow The Baltimore Battery on Facebook, Twitter and TikTok, and use the hashtag #baltimorebattery when sharing our content!
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