Hyde on Bautista, Rutschman, Orioles’ new left-field wall

DALLAS—What happened? Orioles manager Brandon Hyde is eager to have Félix Bautista back in the Orioles’ bullpen, where he had a brilliant 2023 season until a right elbow injury forced him to have Tommy John surgery in October 2023.

Hyde isn’t guaranteeing that Bautista will be the closer, yet.

“I think we’re going to have to wait and see with all that,” Hyde said on Tuesday at the Winter Meetings. “When he threw at the end of the year, sometime in October was the end of his rehab, he was throwing the ball extremely well. He’s coming off Tommy John, so he hasn’t pitched in a real game in over a year. We’re going to handle him a little bit differently.

“I think we’re going to be real careful with him early on, seeing what his stuff looks like in spring training. I’m expecting for him to look like Félix again, knowing what he’s been through for the last year-plus. I want to keep him as healthy as possible for this next year. We’re going to be communicating constantly with him and especially early on, be real conservative with him.”

Can Rutschman bounce back? The second half of 2024 was awful for Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman. He was the starting catcher for the American League at the All-Star Game, but in the second half the 26-year-old hit just .207 with three home runs, 20 RBIs and a .585 OPS.

“He’s still early on in his career,” Hyde said. “That was really the first offensive adversity that he has had. I look for Adley to have a big year next year. I look for Adley to get off to a good start. I think Adley’s in a great place right now, physically and mentally. I think he’s going to come into camp really, really driven.

“We’ve had conversations this offseason. He’s got a great plan in place for being ready in spring training, as he always is. Last year, he was very disappointed in his second half. It was tough, and I think he’s going to be better for it.”

Is there pressure on Hyde? After two quick exits from the postseason, Hyde said he doesn’t feel pressure. Orioles  owner David Rubenstein said he wants the team to “speed up the effort” to get to a World Series.

“I think you always put pressure on yourself. Very disappointed in how the season ended, just like I was the year before. Whenever you don’t reach your goal, it’s disappointing. The pressure is more internal of trying to take the next step and carry this group into a deeper run into the postseason.”

Will the new wall help the Orioles’ offense? Last month, executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias announced that the left-field wall will be brought in — 9 feet in some places and as much as 20 feet in others.

“What doesn’t get talked about is our left-handfed hitters and the left-handed power that some of our guys have to all fields and the ability to drive the ball out the other way,” Hyde said.

“To really do everything right on a pitch and to drive it to left-center and to not get rewarded, you saw a lot of guys were disappointed the last couple of years. As our offense continues to grow, we’re still going to use the whole field. Our lefties have the ability to drive the ball from pole-to-pole. Even though they’re moving it in a little bit in the gap, it’s going to be more rewarding for them.”

According to Baseball Savant, Ryan Mountcastle has lost the most home runs, 11, to the left-field wall, which was heightened and moved farther away for the 2022 season.

“He’s in a great place. He’s really excited about next year,” Hyde said. “I think Mounty’s got the ability to really hit. I don’t think he’s reached his potential at all. I think he’s got the ability to be a force offensively, and he’s shown signs of it his first few years. Maybe moving the wall in will rejuvenate him. I look for a big year out of Mounty.”

What does it mean? The starting pitching market has moved quickly. With Max Fried and Nathan Eovaldi reportedly agreeing to terms on Tuesday, Corbin Burnes remains the most attractive free agent on the market.

The other top remaining starters are Jack Flaherty, Sean Manaea and Nick Pivetta. Kyle Gibson, Andrew Heaney and Jose Quintana are also available as well as future Hall of Famers Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander.

What’s the word? “There’s 30 teams trying to get to it and only one team there at the end of the year. I think we’re doing everything we can to try and be in that position.”-Hyde on Orioles’ effort to get to the World Series

What’s the stat of the day? $49.5 million. The contract handed out to outfielder Tyler O’Neill for three years is the longest in executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias’ six years.

“The robust new ownership group that has taken over are extremely supportive,” Elias said. “We were able to attack those needs pretty aggressively, and I credit their support and it’s something I hope we’ll be seeing more and more and more of as we the years go.”

What’s next? The Rule 5 draft concludes the Winter Meetings. The Orioles have one open spot on the 40-man roster, but it seems unlikely they’ll take a player.

“There’s a couple of players we like in the draft,” Elias said. “I think it’s more, do we want to devote a roster spot to a pick? When you do make one, you’re not able to remove that pick from the roster until the middle of spring training, so it’s a bit of commitment. Whether we ultimately do that is something that we’re debating, and we may not.”

Call for questions: I answer Orioles questions most weekdays. Please send yours to: Rich@BaltimoreBaseball.com.