One of Major League Baseball’s best closers will undergo Tommy John surgery in the 2023 season.

Baltimore Orioles general manager Mike Elias confirmed the news of Felix Batista’s (28) Tommy John surgery to local media outlets, including the Baltimore Sun.

Tommy John surgery requires a 12- to 18-month rehabilitation period. The surgery will keep him out of the 2024 season, as well as the rest of the postseason.

In 56 starts and 61 innings pitched this season, Batista posted a 1.48 ERA, 0.918 WHIP, 0.6 home runs, 3.8 walks and 16.2 strikeouts per nine innings.스포츠토토

He was 33-1 in 40 save situations and was named to his first All-Star team. His performance led the Orioles to first place in the American League East.

On August 26, while pitching in a home game against the Colorado Rockies, he felt something wrong with his arm and left the mound.

He was diagnosed with elbow ligament damage and has been rehabbing since then in hopes of returning in-season, but the situation hasn’t improved, leading to surgery.

“I didn’t have much time left,” Elias said. It was becoming increasingly clear that things were not going to go the way we needed them to,” Elias explained.

Batista, a native of the Dominican Republic, made his big league debut in 2022 and distinguished himself over two years with a 1.85 ERA and 48 saves in 121 games.

Elias also announced that the club has agreed to terms with Batista on a two-year contract.

The deal, which will run through 2025, relieves Batista of salary concerns for 2024, when he will be rehabbing, and 2025, when he could potentially return.