Tommy John Surgery Scheduled for Dylan Bundy

Tommy John Surgery will keep Dylan Bundy out of action for the next 12 months, eliminating any chance that he joins the Orioles rotation this season. (Image Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports)

Dylan Bundy’s arrival in Baltimore has been long anticipated, but has been slowed by some discomfort in his right arm that has kept him on the shelf nearly all season. It would seem that the Orioles will need to wait even longer, as Dan Connolly of The Baltimore Sun reported this afternoon that Bundy will need to undergo Tommy John Surgery to repair a partial tear in his elbow. Bundy visited with Dr. James Andrews earlier this week and will undergo the procedure in the coming days.

Widely viewed as the #2 prospect in all of baseball heading into the season, Bundy’s injury news is nothing short of unfortunate. The team had been trying everything they could to avoid such a procedure. He received a platelet rich plasma injection in late March that appeared to help, but he suffered another setback once he finally returned to the mound. He’ll now miss at least the next 12 months following surgery.

Bundy didn’t make his professional debut until last season after being taken 4th overall in the 2011 Draft and he wasted little time. He’d pitch at four levels in 2012, including two very brief appearances out of the Orioles bullpen in September. In 23 minor league starts he’d post a 9-3 record, 2.08 ERA, 0.916 WHIP, and 10.3 K/9. He looked like everything scouts expected he’d be.

Chances are he’ll still have an impact on the Orioles starting rotation, but fans in Baltimore will have to wait until next season to see it.