Orioles’ Dylan Bundy Avoids Surgery, Shut Down for Six Weeks

Dylan Bundy will not be able to resume baseball activity for six weeks, but the Orioles are likely relieved the number two prospect in baseball will not require surgery.

Bundy made his major league debut in 2012 for the Orioles, throwing just 1.2 innings as part of a September callup. The 20-year-old felt tightness in his forearm and elbow pretty much since the beginning of the year, but an MRI revealed no structural damage. While Bundy does not require surgery, he did undergo a platelet-rich plasma injection administered by Dr. James Andrews, an operation requiring six weeks of rehab.

For the Orioles’ top pitching prospect, Bundy will likely not return to the field for two months at a minimum, but no surgery means there is hope he will return this season. Bundy took the minor leagues by storm in 2012 and was anticipated to make a major league impact at some point this season.

In 2012, Bundy started the year at the level of folk-lore. At 19 years of age at the time, Bundy threw 30 innings in A ball, struck out 40 batters, gave up just five hits and two walks and did not allow an earned run. He was promptly promoted to high A ball and then AA before throwing less than two innings in Baltimore by the end of the year.

Bundy finished the 2012 season with 23 starts in the minors, going 9-3 with a 2.08 ERA in 103.2 innings. The lefty phenom struck out 119 batters and had a WHIP of just 0.916, yielding just 67 hits all year. With utter dominance at every level, Bundy is considered just about major league ready, but his assault of the American League East will have to wait a little longer as he recovers from his procedure.

Baltimore will likely turn to Freddy Garcia and Chris Britton as insurance policies for a struggling back-end of the rotation over the next couple of months.