The hapless Baltimore Orioles starting rotation may have a savior at some point during the 2016 MLB season. Prospect Dylan Bundy has been impressive during spring training, and manager Buck Showalter is optimistic about his future with the club.
Bundy, 23, has made seven appearances this spring and has allowed three earned runs on six hits and two walks over 8-1/3 innings, but his opponents are batting just .194 against him, which explains his superb 0.96 WHIP. He has yet to make a start, but that could be where he'll make the biggest impact with the O's.
"I try and slow down my enthusiasm," Showalter told Jon Meoli of the Baltimore Sun. "He's been through so much. As much as we want him to be what we think he's capable of, imagine what it's been like for him. Who knows? Maybe at some point during the season, if he gets to that 30-, 40-inning mark, we could start doing some things as a starter."
Dylan Bundy has shocked folks in o's camp. Throwin 95 w/ good curve. Will start year in o's pen; rotation option later?
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) March 25, 2016
Buck really impressed with Dylan Bundy. "The last 4 or 5 times out he's looked like a Major League pitcher."
— Brittany Ghiroli (@Britt_Ghiroli) March 22, 2016
Bundy dealt with shoulder and elbow issues in recent seasons. Last year, he was limited to just 10 starts between the regular season and Arizona Fall League, but his eight starts at Double-A Bowie were solid as the right-hander maintained a 3.68 ERA and 1.18 while striking out 25 batters in 22 innings.
He's expected to start the season in the Orioles' bullpen, but with the way the starting rotation has been performing, it may not be long before he makes his debut as a starter.
Here are the spring stats from the team's projected rotation:
Miguel Gonzalez - 12.56 ERA, 2.37 WHIP and four strikeouts in five starts (14-1/3 innings)
Ubaldo Jimenez - 9.45 ERA, 1.95 WHIP and five strikeouts in three starts (6-2/3 innings)
Yovani Gallardo - 16.62 ERA, 2.31 WHIP and one strikeout in 4-1/3 innings
Chris Tillman - 7.94 ERA, 2.47 WHIP and six strikeouts in 5-2/3 innings
Kevin Gausman - 4.50 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and six strikeouts in six innings
Although it's spring training and a lot of players, especially pitchers, are looking to shake off the cobwebs, this is not a good indication of where things are heading for the Orioles' rotation, considering the unit was projected to be one of the worst in the MLB for the 2016 season.
With the way things are going in terms of Bundy's progress this spring and the performance of Baltimore's rotation, it's possible that the right-hander defies the sentiment that the Orioles can't develop young pitchers.
