Félix Bautista returns to the Orioles while Ryan Helsley is shut down for the season

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The Orioles are receiving bullpen help from a big source.

The Orioles are activating right-hander Félix Bautista off the injured list, president of baseball operations Mike Elias said Saturday. When Bautista makes his first appearance, it will be his first major league action since July 2025.

“He’s as close to full go as he could be,” manager Craig Albernaz said. “I think first and foremost, couldn’t be more excited to have Félix back. It’s been a long road for him.”

Ryan Helsley, meanwhile, won’t return this season. The closing pitcher, who dealt with two bouts of shoulder inflammation, didn’t suffer a setback, Elias said. Rather, the Orioles decided against contracting Helsley’s buildup to prioritize next season, given that only eight games remain.

Helsley has a player option in his contract he can pick up to return to Baltimore in 2027 worth $14 million. When healthy, Helsley pitched to a 4.11 ERA in 17 games. He recorded eight saves.

Bautista has undergone a lengthy recovery process. He underwent Tommy John elbow reconstruction surgery late in 2023 and he missed all of 2024.

Bautista pitched 34 2/3 innings in 2025 before he suffered a torn labrum and rotator cuff last year. After more than a year away from a major league mound, however, Bautista will have the chance to contribute again.

Albernaz said the Orioles will try to be “as smart as we can with using Félix, but also, the game is chaotic and unpredictable, so we don’t know what’ll happen.”

The 31-year-old pitched in nine rehab games in August and September. His 5.63 ERA is deceptive in those. Bautista was a bit wild early in his first outing before finding his feel again. In his last eight appearances, Bautista’s ERA was just 2.35 for Triple-A Norfolk.

“Such a tough journey, and a lot of people have helped him along the way,” Albernaz said. “It was a great moment to tell him, and we had a bunch of people in the office who were helping along the way on his journey back. It was a long road back. We’re pumped to have Félix back.”

To activate Bautista, the Orioles optioned left-hander Cade Povich and moved outfielder Tyler O’Neill to the 60-day injured list.

O’Neill, who is dealing with shoulder inflammation, will miss the rest of the season. He managed a .677 on-base-plus-slugging percentage in 85 games this year, and he has one more year left on his three-year contract.

Additionally, the Orioles optioned outfielder Heston Kjerstad and activated outfielder Christian Franklin from the injured list.

Kjerstad, a new dad, received only four starts since arriving as a September callup. Kjerstad hit 4-for-19 this month with nine strikeouts, but the vast majority of those opportunities came as a late-inning pinch hitter, which didn’t set him up for success. He notched hits in three of his four starts.

“It’s been kind of a difficult road for him, and he’s missed a lot of time,” Elias said. “But he’s a very talented player, and he’s got a really good bat. Right now, we’ve decided on a little different roster mix with Franklin. ... Heston’s got a lot of talent, and he’s still in the forefront of his career.”

This story has been updated.