Bundy: "This is a big year for me"

I want to start out by wishing everyone a Merry Christmas or Happy Holiday or whatever works for you on this day. Enjoy it with family and friends. Any list of Orioles pitching prospects always includes Dylan Bundy in the top spot. Ligament-reconstructive surgery on his right elbow didn't change the order. The strained right latissimus dorsi that ended his 2014 season is a distant memory after only four months. Teams continue to inquire about his availability - Bundy and Kevin Gausman come up in practically every conversation - and the Orioles continue to hold onto him. Bundy is approaching an important season in his professional career. He's healthy and down to his last minor league option. The Orioles can't send him to the minors in 2016 unless he passes through waivers and is outrighted. "This is a big year for me going into it," Bundy said. "I should be fully healthy going into it as far as arm-wise. I've just got to be ready and go out there and compete like I did my first year." Bundy turned 22 last month. The clock shouldn't be ticking on him, but he signed a major league deal that included a $4 million bonus after the Orioles made him the fourth overall pick in the 2011 First-Year Player Draft out of Owasso High School in Oklahoma. The contract took effect in 2012. The elbow surgery on June 27, 2013 ruined Bundy's chances of already becoming an established major league pitcher. He appeared in two games in relief for the Orioles in 2012, but didn't make it back to Baltimore except to undergo follow-up exams. The arm continues to respond favorably. He didn't have any setbacks this summer while making a combined nine starts at short-season Single-A Aberdeen and high Single-A Frederick. And the freakish lat injury has healed. "That was real minor. I don't even know how I did it. It was crazy," Bundy said. "My arm feels great. No problems." Bundy posted a 9.36 ERA in his first three starts for the Keys, but it was 1.23 in his last three outings. "I'm happy with the way last year went," he said. "Of course, I'd like to have made it to Double-A, but I had some things to figure out after not throwing for a year or so. "I like to expect that I'll be in Bowie, but you never now. It could be high-A again, could be Triple-A. I don't really know what they're thinking. "I'll just go to spring training and compete the way I did my first year and let them make all the decisions." Bundy started throwing about two weeks ago, playing catch from 60 and 90 feet. "Mainly, this has been the longest layoff I've had from baseball and I've enjoyed it," he said. "I've been running a lot and hanging with my brother (Bobby) and Parker Bridwell, who lives with him." Bobby Bundy has undergone multiple surgeries, including ligament-reconstruction on his right elbow. He missed the 2013 season, but pitched in six combined games this year in the Gulf Coast League and with short-season Single-A Aberdeen. "He's good now, his arm is good," Dylan Bundy said. "We both started throwing around the same time. He looks the best he has in three years as far as his arm motion and how his arm feels. "It's always been a goal of ours to have the box score say 'Bundy, Bundy.' He's going to be a reliever now and he's fine with that."