Dylan Bundy talking about Dylan Bundy
Orioles No. 1 selection Dylan Bundy (fourth overall) had his first teleconference with the Baltimore media late Monday night. The kid has confidence, that’s for sure. He was pretty honest, admitting he teared up when his name was called.
He also said the $30 million price tag that’s been floated was about right, which may make the Orioles tear up. (Stephen Strasburg’s draft record was $15.1 million)
For those of you who haven’t been paying attention (and we know who you are) Bundy, 18, had ridiculous numbers at Owasso High in Oklahoma during his senior season (20 hits, five walks and two earned runs in 71 innings while striking out 158 batters). He won the 2011 National Gatorade Player of the Year Award.
Bundy was thought to be the guy the Orioles wanted, but reports circulated Sunday that Archie Bradley, Bundy’s friend and fellow Oklahoma high school right-hander (from Broken Arrow High, Bradley was taken seventh by the Arizona Diamondbacks), was also in the Orioles’ sights. But Bundy, the 6-foot-1, 200-pounder who loves to work out, ended up as their guy.
Bundy’s brother, Bobby, was an eighth-rounder of the Orioles in 2008 and is excelling at High-A Frederick this year. They would love to play together in the pros (they played for a year during Bobby’s senior year and Dylan’s freshman year at Sperry High. Dylan transferred to Owasso as a junior).
OK, you’ve got the background. Here are some of the quotes.
Bundy on Monday’s draft experience: “Me and Archie Bradley both were sitting there in this huge ballroom with a bunch of our friends and family, and we saw the fourth pick come up for the Orioles and we had a pretty good idea it might be one of us, but we weren’t sure. And then my name got called out and I recognized that it was my name simply because of Bundy. And I kind of got emotional. I started to tear-up a little bit because the first thing I thought of was my brother, because he’s in the organization and how I dreamed of playing with him and it’s actually happening now. So it’s been amazing.”
On his draft slot: “Really I just thought I was going 4 or 5, Orioles or Kansas City, but there were rumors that Baltimore wasn’t going to take me because of signability and all this stuff. I was just hoping that they might change their mind and let me play with my brother this year.”
On his work ethic: “It all goes to my brother and my dad. They taught me to work hard and all my hard work would pay off someday and obviously today is that day with the fourth overall pick. And (it’s something) I’m very honored to have. But I do a lot of different stuff, a lot of workouts. A lot of people call me a workout freak, and I’m glad I have that term.”
On importance of signing soon: “Obviously I want to play pro ball that’s my dream. But college is there also if things don’t work out.”
On his financial demands: “The numbers that were thrown out were true. That’s how we feel and we feel that I am one of the best prep pitchers out there in the draft this year and we’ll see what happens I guess.”
On $30 million being that figure: “I guess so, huh?”
On getting a chance to play with Bobby: “Me and my brother obviously talked about it. We are brothers. I have told him I wanted to pitch either against him in the major leagues or with him. 1-2 starter combo would be awesome and it has come to reality today that I might get that opportunity to do that in the near future.”
On whether he’ll be able to continue his specific workout regimen once he signs: “I think I am going to continue to do all of my workouts this summer until hopefully us and the Orioles work out a deal. And I am going to work with the Orioles and let them have their opinion on my workout and see what they think about them. I do a punching bag routine that everybody can look up on YouTube. I like to do a long toss. Everybody likes to say I like to do long toss, but I mean I only do it once or twice a week and it is not 500 feet.”








Comments
That was a typo, right? For a second there I got the impression that he said 30 million with a straight face.
Posted by: Tim in NC | June 7, 2011 5:57 PM
The Orioles knew all of this before they drafted him...They have a bargaining chip in his brother and I think they'll end up giving him a major league deal...If they think the kid is the next Roger Clemens like some scouts are saying, they'll do whatever it takes to make the deal.
Posted by: Rick | June 8, 2011 1:23 AM
Does no one remember what Strausburg's team asked for right after he was drafted last year? The number was $50 million. They obviously don't expect to get $30 million, they just throw out an absurdly high number to start the process. Don't hate on the kid for wanting to max out this opportunity, I know I would want to as well.
Posted by: Micah | June 8, 2011 8:29 AM