When Will Dylan Bundy Finally Impact the Baltimore Orioles?
By Josh Sippie
Dylan Bundy has long been touted as one of the most physically gifted prospects in baseball. With a fastball that flirts with 100 mph and a devastating curveball among an arsenal of solid pitches, Bundy is a dominating huerler. But since reaching the Majors at the young age of 19 in 2012, Dylan Bundy has barely even been mentioned.
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The first problem comes from the Tommy John surgery he underwent in June of 2013. He struggled in the slightest in his return to advanced-A ball in 2014, posting a 4. 78 ERA in six games started. However, thus far into AA ball in 2015, Bundy is pitching to the tune of a 2.25 ERA in six games started. He’s thrown 16.0 innings, struck out 18, only walked 5 and has yet to surrender a home run.
Yet, even including the Tommy John surgery, Dylan Bundy should be encroaching on the Major Leagues at some point, seeing as how he has already featured in the Show. So how close is he?
Dylan Bundy is currently on an innings count of 110 innings. The Baltimore Orioles are using a very cautious approach for their prized prospect. Despite the surgery being a year in the rear-view mirror, they’re doing their best to make sure that his arm is 100%. Of course, Dylan Bundy is of the belief that it already is 100%. “I feel like my arm is fully healthy, like it used to be in 2012.” He said, as reported by PressBoxOnline.com.
So while a return to the Majors may be fresh on Bundy’s mind, the signs aren’t pointing to a return in 2015.
Now 22 years old, Dylan Bundy would like to start digging into the Major League rotation. But the Orioles don’t exactly need to rush to get Bundy into the rotation. The Orioles current starting crop is pretty solid. Wei-Yin Chen is off to a fantastic start, as are Ubaldo Jimenez and Miguel Gonzalez. Chris Tillman needs some time to settle down, but he always manages too.
The oddball out is Bud Norris, who’s had a really rough go on the mound thus far, but he’ll be given every chance to find some consistency and if he can’t, Kevin Gausman isn’t going to be out forever and he’ll be raring to crack the rotation from AAA. Next to that, Zach Davies is pitching very well in AAA and might surpass Dylan Bundy as the first-choice call-up should it be needed.
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All Dylan Bundy can do is continue to put up the numbers he’s been putting up. The potential is there, the talent is there, it’s just a matter of time. 2015 may not be the most realistic re-arrival for Bundy to make it back to the Majors since an innings count is in play and teams rarely (if ever) deviate from an innings count plan. But if enough goes right, it could happen. Mike Wright may even be destined for the starting rotation if he can develop some consistency in AAA this year.
The most likely scenario is for Dylan Bundy to make his way into the starting rotation at the beginning of the 2016 season. The Baltimore Orioles are grooming a fantastic young rotation. Chris Tillman is still young and behind him, Gauseman, Davies and Bundy are all knocking on the door of the starting rotation with Wright on the cusp as well.
Dylan Bundy pitches well at whatever level he’s at. He got roughed up a bit in Spring Training, but Spring Training is never the most telling competition. It’s only a matter of time before he steps into the ace role that’s always been reserved for him.