:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/66481748/usa_today_14167360.0.jpg)
Nine years ago, Dylan Bundy was selected by the Orioles with the No. 4 pick in the MLB Draft. To say he’s failed to live up to expectations is definitely an understatement.
He made his major-league debut in 2012, but after two games, didn’t crack the big-league roster again until 2016. Over the last four seasons, Bundy has consistently been one of the worst starters across the majors. He’s gone 38-45 with a 4.69 ERA, while having a 1.33 WHIP, 97 ERA+ and 4.75 FIP.
This offseason, he was traded from Baltimore to the Angels. By no stretch were the Angels expecting him to come in and cement himself as an ace. To be honest, I don’t think anyone was. Though there’s still a lot of baseball to be played, Bundy has impressed this spring, and been arguably the best pitcher on the Angels’ staff.
On Tuesday he threw four innings, allowing two runs while striking out five. Through his first four starts this spring, he’s allowed only two runs in 11 1⁄3 innings. He has 16 strikeouts, compared to only one walk.
Yes, it’s the spring, and these numbers don’t mean anything for the regular season, but seeing Bundy succeed early on has to be a really positive sign for the Angels.
Links
- Ty Buttrey made his spring debut yesterday. He threw one scoreless inning, allowing two hits. His fastball was sitting at 96mph, but touched 98mph. Buttrey appeared in 72 games last season with the Angels. Only six pitchers in the American League appeared in more. He went 6-7 with a 3.98 ERA. Buttery struck out 84 72 1⁄3 innings.
He said he was happy with the two changeups he threw. He’s trying to improve the changeup this year, to add to his fastball and slider.
- The Angels made a number of roster moves on Tuesday. Get caught up with them here
- The Big West Conference basketball tournaments in Anaheim are going to continue without fans amid coronavirus crisis.. This is something to keep an eye on since the Honda Center is across the freeway from Angel Stadium
- Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic wrote a great piece on why clubhouse access matters. Check this out if you have a subscription
- According to Bob Nightengale, Shohei Ohtani, who’s expected to begin pitching again in mid-May, received a $50,000 bump in pay from the Angels and will earn $700,000 this season in his final year before being eligible for arbitration. He didn’t pitch in 2019 after making 10 starts in 2018. During his Rookie of the Year campaign, Ohtani went 4-2 with a 3.31 ERA. He posted a 127 ERA+, 3.57 FIP and 1.16 WHIP. He averaged 11 strikeouts per nine innings.