Dylan Bundy says his arm feels great, talks about pitching with his brother

SARASOTA, Fla. - Until Thursday, the last time the two Bundy brothers saw their names in the same box score it was April 2008. Dylan Bundy was a freshman and Bobby Bundy a senior at Owassa (Okla.) High School.

But on Thursday, two Bundys pitched in one game when the Orioles played in Jupiter, Fla., against St. Louis. Dylan went two innings, allowing two hits and one run. Bobby pitched 2/3, of an inning without allowing a hit or run.

Both brothers have had Tommy John surgery and both are looking forward to what they hope will be healthy and productive seasons.

But Thursday was exciting for Dylan, 22 and Bobby, 25 as they pitched in the same game as pros for the first time.

"Definitely (exciting)," Dylan said. "I think it was more exciting for my dad. We both got to call him after the game, and he seemed pretty excited about it and happy about both of us being in the same game. It was pretty fun. An exciting moment for our whole family.

"I knew he (Bobby) was backing up that game and had a chance to go in. I knew there was a pretty good possibility he would go in. I didn't get to see it in person - watched on TV in the clubhouse. Pretty exciting."

Bobby Bundy has had to endure three surgeries over the last couple of years and Dylan said his brother is his role model.

"Everyone preaches to me about how much patience and work ethic I have, but I learned it all from my brother," Dylan said. "He went through three surgeries, triple the amount I have gone through. Been through two bone spurs and a Tommy John. He definitely has the discipline and motivation to keep going."

Dylan has pitched in three Orioles Grapefruit League games this spring. Over 4 2/3 innings, he has allowed five hits and three runs with four walks and two strikeouts.

After his Tommy John surgery of June 2013, he went 1-3 with a 3.27 ERA over nine starts in the minors last summer at short-season Single-A Aberdeen and Single-A Frederick. Dylan pitched just 41 1/3 innings and was really starting to see progress late in the year, but didn't pitch after Aug. 5 due to a lat strain that has long since healed.

"I felt better my last couple starts in Frederick," he said. "Felt like I was getting my command and my velo up as well. Then I had that crazy little strain or whatever and it kind of derailed me again.

"But now I feel great, arm is great. No soreness after an outing, that is a huge plus. I don't feel anything on the mound while I'm out there competitvely. I'm good to go."

Dylan said one goal he has for this year is to return pitching to the form he showed in 2012, before his surgery, when he went 9-3 with a 2.08 ERA at three levels of the minors and made two September relief appearances for the Orioles. He became the fourth 19-year-old to pitch in the majors in the last decade and he was ranked as the No. 2 prospect in the game by Baseball America.

"That would be a great goal, but of course I want it better than what I was in 2012. Being able to get to the big leagues again and stay there, is my ultimate goal," he said.