Dylan Bundy continues to progress in his rehab from Tommy John Surgery. Bundy, the O’s first-round pick (fourth overall) in 2011, underwent the surgery last June 27 following elbow pain and PRP injections.
He had his best outing of extended spring training yesterday, when he pitched 4.0 innings plus two batters. Roch Kubatko has more:
The only hit off Bundy came after the fourth. He struck out six batters and threw 56 pitches before coming out of the game.
Bundy’s fastball sat at 91-93 mph and touched 94 mph.
In his previous start on May 29, Bundy threw 50 pitches over three hitless innings in Fort Myers. He walked the leadoff batter in each inning and struck out four.
Bundy’s fastball that day sat at 91 mph and topped out at 92. Note the improvement today.
Bundy is scheduled to work five innings in his next start on Sunday. He’s approaching a rehab assignment in the minors.
It’s great to see Bundy’s velocity improving. In his first appearance against opposition hitters since last spring, he allowed two home runs in one inning.
The important thing to remember about Dylan is that he’s still only 21 years old, having been drafted straight out of high school. The guy whose name is always tossed around with Bundy’s, Kevin Gausman, attended college at LSU and is 23.
Bundy appeared in two games for the Birds in 2012, pitching 1.2 innings, allowing one hit, one walk, and no runs. In the minors, he had a 2.08 ERA and 119 strikeouts in 103.2 IP split between Delmarva (8 games), Frederick (12 games), and Bowie (3 games). Opposing batters hit .186 against him.
It still seems unlikely (though possible, of course) that Bundy will help the MLB club in 2014. He’ll need a good amount of continued seasoning and experience pitching in the minors after not doing so at all in 2013, before Dan Duquette and Buck Showalter are going to give him the call.
Let’s just take it one step at a time for now – it’s wonderful that Bundy seems set to finish up in Sarasota and head to a minor league affiliate. Here’s to the next chapter on the road to his return.
