As the first home-stand of the 2nd half draws to a close, I thought it would be a good time to take a look back on the first half from here on the Shore. The season started with high hopes for success coming out of spring training. No affiliate within the Orioles organization had more talent or more prospects than Delmarva. It certainly appeared the place to be to see the O’s of the future.
No first half review would be considered accurate if it didn’t start by talking about “the” prospect.
Dylan Bundy
Dylan started the season off with 2 road starts consisting of 6 IP combined. 18 up, 18 down with 12K’s established Bundy as the most talked about prospect in all MiLB the first weeks of the season. His home debut (his last scheduled 3 inning start) on 4/17 resulted in his first opportunity to pitch out of the stretch after allowing a BB after retiring the first 8 he faced.
Dylan started the season off with 2 road starts consisting of 6 IP combined.
In the end he had thrown a combined no hitter over his first 9 IP allowing only one walk and recording 15 K’s.
It wasn’t until his 5th start that Bundy actually allowed a hit, and that runner was immediately erased on a DP. In all Bundy made 8 starts before being promoted pitching 30 innings, giving up 5 hits, 2 unearned runs, 2BB, 2HBP and recorded 40K’s. Mind boggling stats that make it easy to say “promote him”, “have him pitch at Camden” and all the things you read.
But what I saw was someone whose fastball was so far superior to the level of competition he was facing that he didn’t use or develop his secondary pitches as much as he should have at the low A level. When on his curveball is devastating, but later in his time here, it appeared to me he had trouble controlling it and it remained up in the zone.
Was his time here a success? Yes. Will be most likely be a top of the rotation pitcher at the MLB level? Yes. Does he still have a way to go? Yes.
Take your time with him.
Parker Bridwell
1st half stats: 2-5, 5.77 ERA, 59H in 57.2 IP, 33BB 38K. Bridwell is probably one of the most frustrating kids I get to watch. He’s a tall righty with a great frame. He has a great fastball, but with less movement than many more successful pitchers, he has struggled greatly this season.
Command has been a key issue, as he works from behind on most hitters and starts game off slowly. Bridwell’s ERA in innings 1-3 is 6.69 while in innings 4-6 it is 3.45. If possible I would prefer to see Bridwell used as a trade piece.
Eduardo Rodriguez
Rodriguez is possibly the most interesting pitching prospect for the Shorebirds this season.
Rodriguez is possibly the most interesting pitching prospect for the Shorebirds this season (non Bundy category). Eduardo made 10 starts in the first half and allowed three ER or less in all starts and allowed none four times.
He’s a lefty who has nice release and he hides pitches well. However, he’s not overpowering enough to have a real swing and miss pitch.
Tim Berry
Berry Made 10 starts prior to a call up. Record of 2-7 with an ERA just north of 5. Tim started the year strong, allowing 2 or less ER each of his first 5 outings. However starts 6-10 resulted in 21ER in just 28.2 IP.
Additionally, Tim struck out 6 or more 4 times in his first 6 starts and didn’t reach that mark in the final 4. In what I’ve seen Tim needs a lot of work on his secondary pitches. His fastball isn’t strong enough to overpower and when the curveball isn’t on, he is overmatched by most hitters.
Tyler Wilson
Wilson received 6 starts prior to his promotion: 3-3, 5.06 ERA. I did get to see two stellar outings from Wilson prior to his call up. His combined 12IP with 5 H, 3BB and 10 Ks really had me believing he could be the real deal.
The problem for Wilson is his mistakes travel far. He gives up far too many HR and seems to run out of gas too soon to be a starter. I recommend a move to the bullpen for this one.
