Orioles closer Félix Bautista named American League Reliever of the Month for April

A year ago, Félix Bautista was just one month into his major league career, and the sustainability of his early success was in question.

Now, one month into his first full season as the Orioles’ closer, the 6-foot-8 right-hander is being recognized as one of the best relief pitchers in the majors.

Bautista on Wednesday was named the American League Reliever of the Month for April by MLB after compiling seven saves with a 1.42 ERA in 13 2/3 innings through the first month of the season.

“It’s really exciting,” Bautista said through team interpreter Brandon Quinones. “Truly just a lot of emotions to be able to receive this award. It’s just great overall to see all the fruits of my labor come to fruition.”

He scattered nine hits and seven walks across his 14 appearances while striking out a whopping 25 batters — good for a rate of 16.46 strikeouts per nine innings. With a high-90s fastball that sometimes gets up to 102 mph and a devastating splitter, Bautista has struck out 43.1% of the batters he’s faced this season. He ranks in the top five among big league pitchers in average fastball velocity, strikeout rate and swing-and-miss percentage.

The 27-year-old is the first Oriole to win the league’s Reliever of the Month award since closer Jim Johnson did it in May 2012 when the honor was named the “Delivery Man of the Month” award.

Bautista’s seven saves in eight opportunities rank fourth in the AL and sixth in the majors. He ended the opening month with saves Thursday and Saturday in Detroit.

He blew his second save opportunity of the season in Boston on April 1 when he allowed a walk-off two-run home run to Adam Duvall, a blast that followed a dropped fly ball from outfielder Ryan McKenna with two outs. In his 12 innings since, Bautista has allowed just six hits and one run while striking out 22.

Despite Bautista’s excellent April, he perhaps wasn’t the Orioles’ best reliever. Right-hander Yennier Cano, who burst onto the scene in mid-April, also received votes for the award after pitching 11 shutout innings without allowing a hit. Cano opened the season retiring the first 24 batters he faced to tie the franchise record before hitting a batter to end that streak. Batters in April went 0-for-32 off Cano, whose command has been pinpoint after he struggled with it in previous seasons. He allowed his first hit of the season — an infield single — in Tuesday’s win.

“It’s been a blessing to have Cano here with us, now that he’s been able to be here and be able to help us win some ball games,” Bautista said. “It’s been great to have him around.”

The Orioles’ bullpen has been one of the best in the majors with a league-best 10 wins and a 3.03 ERA in 113 innings.

“It’s really nice that we can come in there every night and get the job done,” Bautista said. “I feel like we have a lot of confidence as a group. We feel really proud of what we’re able to do. I think we have to give credit to the starters to go even farther into these games and make it easier on us. I’m really confident in this group.”

San Diego Padres closer Josh Hader, a Millersville native and former Orioles minor leaguer, won the National League version of the award. The left-hander leads the majors with 10 saves.

Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Matt Chapman and Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. were named their league’s respective Players of the Month. New York Yankees right-hander Gerrit Cole and Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw were named the AL and NL Pitchers of the Month, respectively. Texas Rangers third baseman Josh Jung and Dodgers outfielder James Outman were their leagues’ respective Rookies of the Month.

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