Baseball America | Blog | Baseball America Prospects Blog | Orioles Make The Call For Dylan Bundy

Less than six months after he threw his first pro pitch, Dylan Bundy is headed to the big leagues.

QUICK CALLUPS
In the early days of the draft it wasn't all that unusual for a high school pitcher to make his big league debut either the same year he was drafted or the next year. But Bundy will become the first pitcher in more than 20 years to make such a quick ascent to the majors.
DRAFT	Player
1965	Joe Coleman
1965	Nolan Ryan
1965	Charlie Vaughan
1966	Ken Brett
1966	Gary Nolan
1968	Lloyd Allen
1968	Mike McQueen
1969	Bert Blyleven
1969	Don Gullett
1969	Balor Moore
1970	Terry Forster
1971	Jay Franklin
1972	Larry Christenson
1973	David Clyde
1978	Britt Burns
1978	Mike Morgan
1978	Tim Conroy
1990	Todd Van Poppel

The minors top pitching prospect was called just an hour after the Orioles finished a marathon 18-inning win over the Mariners. That extra-inning game required the Orioles to use its bullpen for 12 2/3 innings. Needing pitching help, the Orioles, who had previously said they wouldn't call up their prized prospect, decided that they needed the help. Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal was the first to report Bundy's call to the big leagues.

The Orioles have limited Bundy's innings this year, especially early in the year with the idea that they would be allowed to pitch more extended innings later in the season. Bundy was limited to three innings an outing for his first three starts and didn't pitch into the sixth inning until August.

"We're very conservative on the front end," Orioles pitching coordinator Rick Peterson told Baseball America in April . "At the back end (of the season), he'll be a normal pitcher."

Of course it's not normal for a 19-year-old to get to the big leagues, but Bundy would appear to be the Orioles' best option for pitching help. He went 9-3, 2.08 in 103.2 innings between three levels, striking out 119 and walking just 23. He also won a Sept. 5 start against Akron in the Eastern League playoffs while pitching for Double-A Bowie.

Bundy has the best stuff in the organization, including the big league staff, with a high 90s mph fastball, a plus curveball and a changeup that went from an afterthought in spring training to a weapon by midseason. He also showed an excellent cutter in high school, one that some scouts project as a plus pitch, but the Orioles have not yet allowed him to throw it as a pro.

Bundy is overhyped. Excellent arm, but many pitchers at Futures game showed arms that were equal if not superior. Saber stat types are in a dither about Bundy, but don't forget those numbers were compiled against mostly A level hitters, 90% of whom won't sniff the bigs.
Bundy is a shade stiff and robotic, his arm does not work easily and his finish is poorly balanced. Stuff is fine but command is off. That doesn't show up with A umps but the big league zone is much tighter and those umps are tougher on newbies. I'm saying he will be very successful one day but not immediately, at least not until the kinks are worked out.

Posted by JDSmith | September 19, 2012 at 1:47 pm | Shortcut

Its a bit troubling, to me, that anyone could be so naive (perhaps ignorant is a better word) as you are, Mr JD. Take a look at Dylans last start – a playoff game at the AA level. The numbers you seem to scoff at, from low A, were still against players that are much older than Dylan is. Akron, the team Dylan breezed through in the AA playoffs, as a 19 year old, is much better than any college baseall team in the country. JDS, baseball isnt for everyone, I'm certain you'll find something you're more suited to evaluate properly. Best of luck.

Posted by Joe | September 19, 2012 at 5:29 pm | Shortcut

Joe: Perhaps you'll find something you are better suited to. Ballet, perhaps, or judging hog calling contests at county fairs. I, unlike you, attended the Futures Game. Bundy was not sharp, to put it mildly. Several other pitchers outperformed him. Try this, "Joe": View some video of Bundy and break it down for us. Tell us what you see; what he's doing right, wrong, etc.. With your expertise I am sure you can do that?!!! Make you a bet: Like Bauer, Bundy will be ineffective in his early big league appearances and a star later on. Want to put your genius on the line and take that bet?

Posted by JDSmith | September 20, 2012 at 1:09 pm | Shortcut