Dylan Bundy

Early years

Bundy attended Owasso High School. As a senior, he had a 0.25 earned run average and 158 strikeouts in 71 innings. He was the 2011 Gatorade National Baseball Player of the Year, Baseball America High School Player of the Year, the USA Today National Player of the Year, 2011 Louisville Slugger Player of the Year, 2011 National High School Coaches Association Baseball Player of the Year and the 2011 National High School Baseball Coaches Association Player of the Year.

Bundy is the only player to win the Gatorade State player of the year in any sport three times (2009, 2010, 2011).

He went on in 2011 to become the first baseball player to win the Gatorade Athlete of the Year award.

Professional career

Bundy was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles with the fourth overall pick in the 2011 Major League Baseball Draft. On August 15, 2011, he signed a major league contract with the Baltimore Orioles, who added him to their 40-man roster.

Bundy made his professional debut on April 6, 2012 with the Single-A Delmarva Shorebirds pitching against the Asheville Tourists. He allowed no hits over three innings while striking out six batters. His fastball was reported to reach 97–98 mph in the game. In 30 innings pitched with Delmarva, Bundy maintained an ERA of 0.00 with 40 strikeouts, two walks and two unearned runs. Hitters went 5 for 94 against him.

Bundy was promoted to the high Class A Frederick Keys on May 23, 2012 where he posted a 6–3 record with a 2.84 ERA. He was named to appear in the 2012 All-Star Futures Game.

Bundy was promoted to the Bowie Baysox on August 14, 2012. Bundy was promoted to the Baltimore Orioles on September 19, 2012. On September 23, Bundy made his MLB debut against the Boston Red Sox in a relief appearance. He recorded two outs. He appeared once more during the season on September 25 against the Blue Jays, pitching one inning, allowing one hit and walk.

On June 27, 2013, he underwent Tommy John surgery. He was expected to miss at least 12 months. In January 2014, Bundy had circled June 28, 2014—one year and one day after his Tommy John surgery—as the target date for his return.

On July 29, 2015, Bundy was shut down indefinitely with calcification in the back area of his shoulder. At the time of his shutdown, there was no timetable for his return. On August 26, it was announced that he would pitch in an instructional league, along with fellow Orioles pitcher Hunter Harvey, in September 2015.

2016

Out of minor league options in 2016, Bundy had an impressive spring and made the Orioles Opening Day roster. He made his season debut on April 7, 1290 days after his last Major League appearance. Bundy pitched an inning against the Minnesota Twins, allowing only one hit, while earning a hold.

At the All-star break, Bundy had appeared in 22 games out of the bullpen, pitching to a 3.08 ERA in 38.0 innings. He went 2-1 and collected 32 strikeouts. After the All-star break, Bundy was inserted into a struggling Orioles rotation to help find stability. Bundy had a rocky first start, as he pitched 3 ¹⁄₃ while giving up four runs all via the home run. Bundy had a much better start the second time around against the Cleveland Indians, going 5.0 innings while allowing one unearned run. On July 27, against the Colorado Rockies, Bundy took a perfect game into the sixth inning with one out before allowing a walk and then a home run to former Oriole Nick Hundley. In his very next start against the Texas Rangers, Bundy turned in his best performance, throwing 7 innings of one-hit baseball. He carried a no-hitter through 5 ²⁄₃ innings before giving up a single.

Bundy finished his first full year in the majors, having pitched in 36 games (14 starts), pitching to a 4.02 ERA while going 10-6 and striking out 104 batters.

2017

Bundy was slotted as the Orioles number two starter after injury to staff ace Chris Tillman. In his first start of the season, Bundy tossed seven innings, giving up only one hit while striking out eight batters to earn his first victory of the season. On May 18, Bundy's consecutive quality start streak of 8 to start the season came to an end. Bundy struggled in the month of June and July, and finished the first half with an ERA of 4.33 in 108 innings of work. In his first start back from the All-Star break, Bundy set a new career-high for innings pitched in a season. On August 1, he had the longest outing of his career, going eight innings against the Kansas City Royals, allowing one unearned run in the Orioles 7-2 victory.

On August 29, Bundy had the most dominant start of his career, tossing his first career Complete Game Shutout against the Mariners. He allowed just one hit, a bunt single in the 4th inning, while striking out 12 batters and only walking two.

Pitching style

Bundy has been considered one of the most physically gifted pitchers in professional baseball, and he is remarkably advanced for his age. He throws four-seam, two-seam and cut-fastballs as well as two off-speed pitches—a curveball and a changeup. His four-seamer has touched 100 mph as a high school player. Since the elbow surgery, his fastball is in the 93-94 mph range, topping out around 97-98. Bundy's second-best pitch is his 88–94 mph cutter. He uses his cutter primarily against left-handed batters to overpower them on the inner-half of the strikezone. He also throws a curveball at 75–77 mph that rates as one of the best in the Orioles system, as well as a solid changeup.

Beyond his extraordinary fastball velocity and late-breaking curveball, Bundy also has impressive command—especially for a young power pitcher. His balanced, fluid delivery and repeatable mechanics allow him to throw strikes consistently and he is able to spot his fastball around the strike zone with precision.