Wrapping up the last day of Orioles minicamp

SARASOTA, Fla. - Dylan Bundy threw 15 fastballs off the half mound today at the Ed Smith Stadium complex. A few feet away, Hunter Harvey threw a full bullpen session off the regular mound.

The Orioles' top two prospects simultaneously in action, raising hopes as the minicamp drew to a close.

"It's great to know that they're on schedule, they're part of the group. They're, for lack of another term, normalized. It is nice," said pitching coach Dave Wallace.

"You're happy for them. That's what you are. It's nice on our end to see them, but still, there's a long way to go. We've got to go through spring training, we've got to go through all that stuff, but it certainly is refreshing to know that they're on the mound Jan. 13 and they're throwing the baseball and they're right on track to be a part of spring training on Day 1. So, that's nice. That's refreshing."

Bundy, shut down in the Arizona Fall League with tightness in his right forearm after having a sore right shoulder at Double-A Bowie, expects to throw off a full mound next week after returning home to Oklahoma.

"It felt good today," Bundy said. "It was just 15 pitches, half-mound. I wouldn't even say I was throwing 70 percent. Long-tossed out to 150, no problems. It felt fine. I've just got to work on mechanics now and repeat my deliver. That's kind of what I'm focusing on now in the offseason.

"I'm probably going to get on a mound next week, maybe Wednesday. I'll throw some more flat mounds, half-mounds, stuff like that at home when I go back today. I'll throw again Friday off the half or full mound, but next week I should be off a mound for sure."

Bundy looks forward to having the media at his locker to talk about his outings instead of his health.

"I'm kind of ready to be over all the injuries and stuff like that and come to spring training healthy and ready to compete for a spot," he said. "That's the main goal."

Harvey threw his fifth bullpen session since being shut down in the fall instructional league with a strained right flexor mass. He's been working out back home in North Carolina under the guidance of father, former major league closer Bryan Harvey.

"After a few years now of a relationship, there's a trust factor," Wallace said. "You kind of know what they're doing and they know what to expect from us, so we're comfortable with that."

Left-hander C.J. Riefenhauser threw off the half mound today. Tanner Scott, Joe Gunkel and David Hess threw off the three full mounds while Wallace moved over to their side.

Triple-barrel action.

Later in the day, Wallace met one-on-one with the young hurlers to continue the bonding process that is an integral part of the minicamp.

"The important thing is building a relationship with them and we've been able to do that, but now that you see when they do step on a mound, you have a sense of their personality, what they're all about and that kind of thing," Wallace said.

"That's the whole purpose of this camp, to familiarize yourself with guys who you don't know that well, and it's evolved over the last couple of years where it's been a really good thing. The best example is Mychal Givens a year ago, just making a little bit of a transition and then he ended up pitching in the big leagues for us this year and I don't know that anyone expected him too. I think relationships, trust and like now, we talked to five guys today. When you talk to these guys, you're finding out about what makes them tick, because they give us a lot of feedback and input, and all of a sudden you get a feel for their personality and what they're all about."

Could there be another Givens in this year's camp, someone who unexpectedly rises to the majors?

"The beauty of that is that you don't know," Wallace said. "There probably will be. There will be somebody out of these 15, 16 guys and we have our ideas who they might be, but I would bet that most of us would be surprised about who it might be. It always happens that way."

Scott opened eyes in the Arizona Fall League with a fastball that touched 100 mph.

"The ball comes out of his hand pretty good, just playing long-toss without getting on the mound," Wallace said. "There's so much more to it. Long-toss, mound, spring training, lights on real season. What happens? You've learned over the years that you can get real excited, but you've got to kind of corral that a little bit because reality will set in later on and you hope it's good, but you never know."

Jeff Beliveau also impressed at minicamp despite being limited to flat ground while continuing his recovery from April labrum surgery while in the Rays organization.

"I remember him now in '14. It was the Rays against some of our left-handers," Wallace said.

"He's one of those guys that it appears that he's pretty deceptive and you don't see the ball off him. We don't know that yet, but yeah, it does intrigue you."

Jason Garcia, last year's Rule 5 pick, didn't throw off a mound at minicamp.

"That was our suggestion, not his, just because he learned so much and has come such a long way," Wallace said. "He's another one of those guys who, we all think in our end of the business that we have a grasp on things, no one expected that guy to be what he turned out to be. We're all pleasantly surprised. He made a lot of progress and he went to fall league, so we're backing off of him right now until spring training starts just because he's been through a lot, No.1, and he's thrown a lot.

"When you think about it, he had thrown several bullpens before this time last year when we had the minicamp. He essentially hasn't stopped until the fall league was over. He doesn't need to get on the mound down here. That was our suggestion. He wanted to and we kind of talked him out of it."

Pitching coach Dave Wallace oversees bullpen sessions during Orioles minicamp.

Hunter Harvey and Dylan Bundy throw at minicamp at the Ed Smith Stadium complex.

Dylan Bundy gets his work in during Orioles minicamp at the Ed Smith Stadium complex in Sarasota.