Dylan Bundy Scouting Report

School: Owasso HS (OK)
Position: RHP
Throws: Right
Bats: Right
Height: 6’1”
Weight: 205-210 lbs.
Body: He has a solid frame and good lower half. Described as “athletic thick” and carries weight well. Limited by height. Carries a bit of muscle for his age, could continue to add 5-10 pounds without adverse effect. It is a body type consistent with the workhorse power pitchers.

Four-Seam fastball

Bundy went 11-0, with a .20 ERA and 158 strikeouts in 71 innings for Owasso HS (OK).

Last summer this pitch was sitting in the upper 80’s and low 90’s, but he has torched those readings as he’s matured. His fastball now sits in the mid 90’s late in games and he touches high 90’s with ease. I have not seen the gun register triple digits as others have seen this spring, but he threw a number of pitches at 98 mph and 99 mph on my digital shots. He commands it well, but can tighten it up in the future. Once he masters control of this pitch effectively, he could be a dominate presence on the mound at any level. This is his favorite pitch and it should be at such a young age. It is so dominate in Oklahoma prep ranks that he can safely live off the pitch.

Cutter

The cutter is new to Bundy‘s arsenal this season. He used a slider in previous encounters over last summer, but he has slightly tweaked his finger pressure and is using less snap in his arm. The new cutter is very effective and greatly helps him mechanically because it lessens the impact on his elbow and shoulder. It has a very nice horizontal plane with a tight late break. I have seen a couple different speeds ranging from upper 80’s to low 90’s, but it sits in a nice range off of the fastball. When it is working down in the zone, it is a very tough pitch to adjust for right handed batters and a nightmare for left handers. It is his “off speed” pitch of choice this spring and it is an exploding fastball for the prep environment.

Curveball

I saw his curveball a lot over last summer and it was reason why I thought he would be one of the better prep pitchers. It is a solid two plane curveball that sits in the mid to upper 70’s. The break is consistent with guys of 6’0”. I thought his curve was above average with the chance to be an effective major league pitch in the future. I have not seen enough of it this season, but I am okay with it. I know he has this pitch in his pocket and I like the fact he is pitching nothing but fastballs and cutters this spring.

Changeup

I consider his changeup a good pitch with room for improvement. It sat in the upper 70’s and very low 80’s, but I have not seen much of it this season. His control of the pitch was average at best, but this should improve as he ages. I feel that any pitcher throwing in the upper 90’s can have an average to slightly above-average change up with great success. If he can work in a split or straight change, this kid can easily be a workhorse top of the rotation right hander.

Command and Control

Bundy simply makes bats miss and racks up strikeouts. His fastball command slips at times and can float higher in the zone, but he does a good job of keeping it down most of the time. When you throw in the upper 90’s and touch 100 mph, command tends to have a slight life of its own. He does a great job of working off the fastball with the cutter and really likes to attack hitters. His passion on the hill is obvious and he is constantly in a showdown against each and every hitter.

Mechanics

Bundy‘s arm slot in the loading phase is a little stretched and he goes beyond the 90 degree angle with the hand. It is only slight and depending on coaching it could remain the same. His arm slot does add a bit of pressure, but nothing alarming of inverted problems. As he transitions phases the elbow and hand placement is in a slot with very little shoulder impact beyond normal conditions. He has a solid line with shoulders and elbows that reduce the overall impact on the girdle.

He does have a lot of traits of a power pitcher with a solid tuck and a powerful stride to go with a smooth and seemingly effortless approach. He gets a great amount of push from the lower half and it shows you why he can reach the upper 90′s. He is a downhill thrower with limited “wasted motion” and a solid plant foot. His slot changes from ¾ to overhead at times, but this will be easily worked out as a professional. He could use a bit more follow through and finish the delivery better, and doing so may improve his command. It is not a major issue, but every pitcher can tweak these little things to command the ball a bit more.

Athletic Ability

Bundy has a lot of power and shows a quick reaction after the delivery. He is considered a mid-round prospect with the bat and glove in the field, which bode well for him on the mound and at least show that he should be more than a stiff for balls batted in play. I witnessed him jump rather high and play a ball on field turf for a high chopper up the middle — he picked the ball and made the play to first. He has a boxing background that should help coordination, balance, strength in the shoulders, and a lot of other items that go with becoming a solid pitcher and fielder on the mound.

Bundy ranks as one of the better preparatory prospects in the 2011 MLB Draft and is the brother of O’s prospect Bobby Bundy.

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This is Part 9 in a series previewing 12 potential players for the Orioles’ #4 overall selection in the 2011 draft. The full series:

1. Anthony Rendon, 3B, Rice
2. Gerrit Cole, RHP, UCLA
3. Danny Hultzen, LHP, Virginia
4. Sonny Gray, RHP, Vanderbilt
5. Jed Bradley, LHP, Georgie Tech
6. Bubba Starling, OF, Gardner-Edgerton HS, Kan.
7. Francisco Lindor, SS, Montverde Academy HS, Fla.
8. Trevor Bauer, RHP, UCLA
9. Dylan Bundy, RHP, Owasso HS, Okl.
10. George Springer, OF, Connecticut
11. Taylor Guerrieri, RHP, Spring Valley HS, S. Car.
12. Archie Bradley, RHP, Broken Arrow HS, Okl.