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Orioles’ Bundy On Schedule to Compete for Rotation Spot

By Chris Rodriguez

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Orioles manager Buck Showalter revealed this week that starting pitcher Dylan Bundy will attend spring training on a regular schedule with no physical restrictions.  Now healthy, Bundy, one of the top pitching prospects in baseball, will no longer be held back.  The 22-year old right-hander may begin at Double-A Bowie, but he could be line for a rotation spot in the majors.  After almost 20 months of recovery from ligament surgery on his elbow, his rehabilitation has finally concluded and now he’s attempting to get back on track and regain the momentum he had before his injury.  If he can, he could be of immediate help to Baltimore as they attempt to win the division once again in 2015.

Bundy was the Orioles 2011 first-round pick and arguably the top prospect in the organization even with his injury history. Bundy hit the ground running in 2012.  In 30 innings pitched in Single-A he didn’t allow a run and struck out 40.4 percent of the hitters he faced.  After 57 innings in High-A striking out 10.42 hitters per innings and only allowing .79 walks per nine, he was promoted to Double-A Bowie where he finished with a solid 3.24 ERA, but yielded 4.32 walks per nine innings and posted a 1.32 WHIP over 16.2 innings.  Despite these solid, but not stellar numbers his potential was so high that he made a brief debut in the majors when rosters expanded in 2012. 

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That success was short-lasted as he was forced to undergo Tommy John Surgery in June 2013.  When he returned in 2014, he posted a sparkling 0.60 ERA and 22/3 strikeout to walk ratio over three starts with Low-A Aberdeen. The runners that reached didn’t have much success as 92.3 percent of base-runners were left on base.  After his promotion to High-A Frederick, he initially struggled before getting back on track towards the end of the season.  In his first three starts he posted a 9.36 ERA in his first three starts, but a 1.23 ERA in his next three before he was placed on the disabled list with a right lat straight he suffered while running during a rehab start.

Because of his prior surgery, however, he Bundy was limited to 80 pitches per start during that time period, something that delayed his progress.  If he does make the big league roster he’ll likely face a similar limit similar to Orioles right-hander Kevin Gausman.  It worked with Gausman and if it works with Bundy, he could be pitching late into the season and potentially the postseason.  Baltimore will need to be comfortable with Bundy pitching four or less innings for his first few starts and even consider moving him to the bullpen for period of time.

The good news for the Orioles and Bundy’s future is that he gained some life lessons throughout the process. “I’ve learned to be more patient. I wasn’t very patient through the whole process and take my time coming back and not really rush it”, Bundy said. He’s also changed his workout regimen.  “I’m not flipping tires in the air and throwing sledgehammers”, said Bundy.  He’s learned that he can do more with less muscle and work smarter. “He’s still one of our best workers. The only thing you have to do with Dylan is pull him back.”

His 98 mph fastball has yet to return, but he’s learned how to pitch more effectively.  By improving his location and utilizing his curveball and change-up more often, he’s become a more complete pitcher.  When his fastball returns to the upper 90s, that experience could return him to the elite level he seemed destined for when he was drafted fourth overall in 2011.

Now, as Bundy surmised, all he has to pitch. “That’s my job. That’s what I’ll do and they can make all the decisions after that”, he stated. With his arm healthy that’s all he can do.  Baltimore will have to make the decision as to whether they think what he shows is enough to keep him on the 25-man roster rather than optioning him to Double-A.  That decision may be more difficult considering that he only has one minor league option remaining.

Bundy has an uphill battle to force the Orioles to make the tough decision not to exercise that option.  Not only is he coming off an up and down season, but the Baltimore rotation is arguably set barring a trade. With Chris Tillman, Bud Norris, Miguel Gonzalez, Gausman, and Wei-Yin Chen all posting ERAs below 4.0 in 20-plus starts in 2014 and Ubaldo Jimenez as his primary competition should one of those starters get injured, he’s going to need to be close to be “lights-out” for the Orioles to feel comfortable trading one of their established starters in order for Bundy to get his chance.  Although that is a tough challenge for any young pitcher, if there’s anyone that can do it, it’s Bundy.

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