For years, the Baltimore Orioles didn’t pay much attention to player development.
It’s part of what made them so bad since 2016 until last year, in fact.
However, they have been focusing on that area for a couple of years now, and the results are starting to become evident.
Any franchise that prides itself on being a contender or a playoff hopeful has got to have the right tools to help their own players reach their best version.
The right coaches, knowledge, and resources to measure things like spin axis, spin rate, pitch trajectory patterns and others are not just handy: they are needed.
Felix Bautista is a result of the Orioles’ newfound focus on trying to help their players improve.
A talented reliever with a big strikeout rate but also notorious control problems for years, Bautista is the embodiment of Baltimore’s player development improvement.
He broke camp with the team and posted a cool 2.19 ERA with 88 punchouts and just 23 walks in 65.2 frames in 2022.
He was a legitimate Rookie of the Year contender, but he wasn’t among the finalists because there was a lot of first-year stars around the league.
An impressive rookie campaign for the @Orioles' closer 🔥 pic.twitter.com/k6kgq8Dy0G
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) January 23, 2023
He became the Orioles’ closer when the team dealt Jorge Lopez to the Minnesota Twins in exchange for prospects.
He was brilliant in the role.
His fastball averaged more than 99 mph, and his splitter held hitters to a meager .087 batting average.
That two-pitch combo, once he gained the ability to locate it, represented death for hitters.
Now, Bautista is eager to keep improving, get some individual accolades, keep increasing his future earnings and, why not, help the Orioles make the postseason.
