Expectations for Bundy have completely changed

As the All-Star break approached, the Orioles' plan for Dylan Bundy hadn't changed from the spring: They wanted him to stay healthy for 70 relief innings and compete for a rotation spot next season.

Now, that plan is history.

Bundy has gone from making an occasional relief appearance to a starter whose electric fastball will be a factor in determining whether the Orioles win the American League East.

Expectations have been high for the 24-year-old Bundy since the Orioles made him a first-round draft pick in 2011. But, elbow and shoulder injuries caused a detour on the traditional route to the big-league rotation.

This spring, Bundy was out of options, a technical term meaning the Orioles had to keep him or potentially lose him to another team. So, they stashed him away in the bullpen where he had a 3.08 ERA in 22 relief appearances.

Then, when the second half started, the Orioles' rotation was in need and Bundy started a game at Tampa Bay.

Bundy's path to the rotation is unique, but pitchers have found rotation success via the bullpen in many ways.

One key is patience: Ask Jeff Samardzija. He made 128 relief appearances for the Chicago Cubs before getting a starting role that eventually led to a $90 million contract last offseason with the San Francisco Giants.

Sometimes, a starter-in-waiting goes to the bullpen because the rotation is full. Or the bullpen needs a long man, or an extra lefty. Maybe the manager wants to save wear-and-tear on an arm. Sometimes, a young starter needs the bullpen to put on the final polish.

That's what happened with the St. Louis Cardinals' blue-chip prospect, Carlos Martinez, who, at age 21, went to the bullpen for two years to learn how to be aggressive and efficient while attacking hitters with his Pedro Martinez-like body and fastball.

Carlos Martinez was a reliever for the Cardinals in the 2014 World Series. And when he became a starter in 2015, he posted a 3.01 ERA with 14 wins and an appearance in the All-Star Game.

Chris Sale had to do a hard-sell sales pitch to get into the White Sox's rotation in 2012. Drafted No. 1 in 2010, he made 79 relief appearances in his first two seasons. Then, in 2012, he made the rotation, but the White Sox moved him back to the bullpen because they were trying to protect what they thought was a tender elbow.

Sale said his elbow was fine. He was angry, and after heated discussions with team management, including General Manager Ken Williams, Sale returned to the rotation after one relief appearance. He was 17-8 with a 3.05 ERA that season, on his way to five All-Star Games and three top-5 finishes in AL Cy Young voting.

Also that season, the Atlanta Braves were trying to figure out the best way to use pitcher Kris Medlen after his return from elbow surgery. Medlen was a reliever in the first half of the season, but after the break, he made 12 starts and finished with a 9-0 record and 0.97 ERA, helping the Braves make the postseason.

The Toronto Blue Jays used Aaron Sanchez, their top rotation prospect, in the bullpen for two years. Now, this season, his first in the rotation, Sanchez, 24, is among the league leaders in ERA as the Blue Jays debate how many innings he should pitch, a similar situation to what the New York Mets went through last season with Matt Harvey.

And, going back a few years, there are other successful starters who worked their way out of the bullpen.

Dave Stewart, now the Arizona Diamondbacks' general manager, was a reliever for the Rangers and Dodgers before he became a starter and pitched the Oakland Athletics into three consecutive World Series starting in 1988.

David Wells was a middle reliever for Toronto and wanted to start. So, he became a free agent and signed with the Detroit Tigers to be in their rotation. Later, Wells started three games for the Orioles in the 1996 postseason and the Yankees in two World Series after that.

Johan Santana, a Rule 5 draftee, pitched four bullpen seasons for Minnesota, including 2002 when the Twins made the American League Championship Series.

And, after Santana joined the Twins' rotation in 2004, Santana won the first of two AL Cy Young Awards, with 20 wins and a league-leading 2.61 ERA and 265 strikeouts.

Bundy is bringing back memories of a similar story in 2012, when third baseman Manny Machado was called up from the minor leagues, played his first game on Aug. 9 and solidified the infield defense.

Machado hit .262 with seven home runs and the Orioles went 33-18 to reach the postseason. They lost in the Division Series.

As for Bundy, all the Orioles need is six strong innings so they can turn a lead over to a deep bullpen.

Bundy has excellent command of a high-90s fastball and a baffling changeup. Bundy says his arm feels great and there should be no problem going beyond his innings limit.

Orioles manager Buck Showalter likes Bundy's mental toughness. The Rangers' Carlos Beltran said Bundy's changeup moves in both directions - with unusually good command for a kid pitcher.

Going into Wednesday's start at Camden Yards against the Boston Red Sox, Bundy has 36 strikeouts and eight walks with a 2.76 ERA.

Those numbers go beyond the Orioles' expectations. But then, they didn't have any expectations for Bundy when the season began.