With Opening Day less than two weeks away, we’ll take a look at a member of the 2016 Orioles every day as they try to return to the playoffs for the third time in five years this season.
March 1 – Adam Jones
March 2 – Chris Tillman
March 3 – Jonathan Schoop
March 4 – Brad Brach
March 5 – Nolan Reimold
March 6 – Yovani Gallardo
March 7 – Matt Wieters
March 8 – T.J. McFarland
March 9 – Dariel Alvarez
March 10 – Brian Matusz
March 11 – J.J. Hardy
March 12 – Mychal Givens
March 13 – Ryan Flaherty
March 14 – Ubaldo Jimenez
March 15 – Mark Trumbo
March 16 – Darren O’Day
March 18 – Pedro Alvarez
March 19 – Oliver Drake
March 20 – Mike Wright
March 21 – Zach Britton
March 22 – Caleb Joseph
RP Dylan Bundy
Age: 23
Contract status: Under club control through the 2021 season
2015 stats (with Double-A Bowie): 0-3, 3.68 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 10.2 K/IP, 2.0 BB/IP, 0 HR, 22 innings
Why to be impressed: The 2011 first-round pick has been through hell from an injury standpoint over the last three seasons, but he is still just 23 years old and has had a healthy spring to this point, creating optimism that he’ll be able to contribute in the Baltimore bullpen. In 8 1/3 innings this spring, Bundy has allowed three earned runs while striking out five and walking two and displaying mid-90s velocity.
Why to be concerned: Elbow and shoulder injuries have limited the top pitching prospect to just 63 1/3 innings in the minor leagues since the start of the 2013 season. Bundy is out of minor-league options and must remain on the 25-man roster if he is healthy, meaning manager Buck Showalter will need to find innings for a pitcher who is far from a finished product despite his promising talent.
2016 outlook: All discussion is a moot point if Bundy cannot stay healthy after losing significant time over the last three years, but the right-hander needs to pitch if he’s ever going to realize his potential. His performance this spring has been encouraging, but no one can really know what to expect once Bundy is thrown into a major league setting for the first time since his cup of coffee late in the 2012 season.
2016 not-so-scientific projections: 3-3, 4.06 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 7.4 K/IP, 3.5 BB/IP, 4 HR, 45 innings
