New York-Penn League: Wick Slugs, Bundy Dominates

July 8, 2012; Kansas City, MO, USA; USA pitcher

throws a pitch during the fourth inning of the 2012 All Star Futures Game at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

The New York just completed their first full week of games, and stars are already beginning to emerge.

Rowen Wick of State College has been pacing the entire league in almost every offensive category. It started with the first game of the season, a 10-3 blow out over Williamsport, when he collected three hits, homered twice and drove in five. After a pair of insipid performances in the next two games, he returned for the series finale with another two homer game, and didn’t look back. After homering in last night’s victory over Batavia, Wick stands with a league-leading 7 long balls in just 10 games. He is also ahead of the pack in Slugging percentage (.942), OPS (1.424) and is second in On Base Percentage (.452). Wick, 21, was slow to develop after being taken by St. Louis in ninth round of the 2012 draft, spending his first professional season and a half in rookie ball. But it appears he’s progressed and after just a week in Short-Season A Ball,  may be ready for stiffer competition.

Right behind Wick in the long ball category is teammate Alex DeLeon, who set a State College record by homering three times last night against Batavia. After 23 at bats DeLeon’s home run total stands at four for the season, the same number the 2013 draft pick had after 117 NYPL at bats last season.

While Wick and DeLeon grab minor league headlines, Orioles starter Dylan Bundy has the attention of major league teams. The 21 year old pitching phenom, who tore through the minors and reached the majors in 2012 just a year after being drafted,  has commenced his rehab from Tommy John surgery. He has made two starts thus far, both of which have been lights out. Pitching for the Aberdeen Ironbirds, Baltimore’s affiliate, Bundy struck out 6 and allowed one earned over five in his first start on June 13th and was lights out in his second appearances, surrendering just two hits and striking out nine over five scoreless frame. Bundy will make one more start for Aberdeen, according to Orioles manager Buck Showalter, before progressing to the next stage of his rehab.

Also dominating from the mound, but with decidedly less fanfare, has been Hudson Valley’s Nolan Gannon, who has yet to allow a run in this young season. On June 15th, Gannon, 20, threw five shutout innings against Aberdeen en route to a 4-2 victory. Five days later, the Rays prospect was untouchable again, fanning eight and walking only one through six shutout frames as Hudson Valley shutout State College 3-0. In each start, the former fourth round draft pick surrendered but one hit: a single.