Baltimore’s winning window took a significant blow when Félix Bautista suffered a UCL injury back in August 2023. The Orioles felt the impact right away, and Craig Kimbrel failed in the closer role last season. The O’s suffered quick postseason defeats in consecutive years without their best reliever, and The Mountain proved too large to replace.
Yennier Cano burst onto the scene in 2023. The former Minnesota prospect earned an All-Star appearance during his rookie year, and the Orioles quickly emerged as the “winner” in the Jorge López deal that also netted Cade Povich. Cano served as the perfect setup man for Bautista, but the vibes changed when the big man went down.