Brian Graham provides updates on Dylan Bundy and Hunter Harvey
SAN DIEGO - Orioles director of player development Brian Graham is at the Winter Meetings as part of the front office contingent.
During a video interview that will be posted later, Graham said the Orioles' top two prospects, pitchers Dylan Bundy and Hunter Harvey, are both doing well after ending the 2014 season on the disabled list.
Bundy, who had Tommy John surgery in June 2013, returned to pitch last summer and went 1-3 with a 3.27 ERA over 41 1/3 innings between short-season Single-A Aberdeen and Single-A Frederick.
But he then suffered a strained lat in mid-August, which ended his year.
"He's doing great," Graham said. "Dylan Bundy is in perfect health and is having what we call a normal offseason. He'll begin his throwing program soon and come into spring training on the exact same program as everyone else - healthy and ready to go.
"I was very pleased with his season. Probably the most promising thing about his whole rehab is he had no setbacks. Everyone wants to gauge velocity and certainly that is important, but the fact he had no setbacks is the most important thing."
Meanwhile, Harvey went 7-5 with a 3.18 ERA for Single-A Delmarva before his season ended in late July due to a flexor mass muscle strain.
In this interview, Harvey told me he will not need surgery, just rest and rehab. Graham said the same and that Harvey should be fine for the 2015 season.
"Absolutely," Graham said. "He is 19 years old. He logged a lot of innings. It was his first full season. We were being very cautious. He's in a great position. He's healthy, he feels good, he is going to begin a throwing program and he'll be ready to go."
Outfielder Dariel Alvarez is a player some fans are starting to talk about. One of the O's top-rated prospects, Alvarez hit over .300 at both Double-A Bowie and Triple-A Norfolk. He is getting close to the majors and the O's have needs in the outfield right now.
"He's close. He is definitely close," Graham said. "You always want to start the season with someone you can put in the five or six hole that will drive in runs. Dariel Alvarez is not proven yet at the major league level, but he's a very talented guy. He's going to be a plus outfielder, has a great arm and puts some good at-bats together. He's going to show some power and the guy loves to play the game."
On another front, the Orioles' six minor league managers last year from the Gulf Coast League and above are all expected to return in 2015, but some could be at different levels. Ron Johnson will return to manage Triple-A and Gary Kendall will be at Double-A.
The Orioles are well down the road to filling four positions on their minor league staff. Triple-A hitting coach Denny Walling retired, Double-A coach Butch Davis got a job on the Twins' major league staff, Frederick coach Torre Tyson's contract was not renewed, and minor league infield instructor Dave Anderson left to manage the Angels' Triple-A team.
Bundy, who had Tommy John surgery in June 2013, returned to pitch last summer and went 1-3 with a 3.27 ERA over 41 1/3 innings between short-season Single-A Aberdeen and Single-A Frederick.
But he then suffered a strained lat in mid-August, which ended his year.
"He's doing great," Graham said. "Dylan Bundy is in perfect health and is having what we call a normal offseason. He'll begin his throwing program soon and come into spring training on the exact same program as everyone else - healthy and ready to go.
"I was very pleased with his season. Probably the most promising thing about his whole rehab is he had no setbacks. Everyone wants to gauge velocity and certainly that is important, but the fact he had no setbacks is the most important thing."
Meanwhile, Harvey went 7-5 with a 3.18 ERA for Single-A Delmarva before his season ended in late July due to a flexor mass muscle strain.
In this interview, Harvey told me he will not need surgery, just rest and rehab. Graham said the same and that Harvey should be fine for the 2015 season.
"Absolutely," Graham said. "He is 19 years old. He logged a lot of innings. It was his first full season. We were being very cautious. He's in a great position. He's healthy, he feels good, he is going to begin a throwing program and he'll be ready to go."
Outfielder Dariel Alvarez is a player some fans are starting to talk about. One of the O's top-rated prospects, Alvarez hit over .300 at both Double-A Bowie and Triple-A Norfolk. He is getting close to the majors and the O's have needs in the outfield right now.
"He's close. He is definitely close," Graham said. "You always want to start the season with someone you can put in the five or six hole that will drive in runs. Dariel Alvarez is not proven yet at the major league level, but he's a very talented guy. He's going to be a plus outfielder, has a great arm and puts some good at-bats together. He's going to show some power and the guy loves to play the game."
On another front, the Orioles' six minor league managers last year from the Gulf Coast League and above are all expected to return in 2015, but some could be at different levels. Ron Johnson will return to manage Triple-A and Gary Kendall will be at Double-A.
The Orioles are well down the road to filling four positions on their minor league staff. Triple-A hitting coach Denny Walling retired, Double-A coach Butch Davis got a job on the Twins' major league staff, Frederick coach Torre Tyson's contract was not renewed, and minor league infield instructor Dave Anderson left to manage the Angels' Triple-A team.
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