Dylan Bundy found a slider

[uk_sox_fan]

FanGraphs has an intriguing article on Dylan Bundy's domination of the Blue Jays Wednesday night. http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/dylan-bundy-made-the-blue-jays-look-silly/ as well as a podcast that features him prominently http://www.fangraphs.com/fantasy/the-sleeper-and-the-bust-episode-443-grip-the-balls/.

He may not be on most Sox fan's radar as someone to circle on the calendar (after having been made a starter last July he faced Boston 3 times and posted a 1-2 record with game scores of 25, 44 and 36 though he was 7-3 in 11 starts against everyone else) but after missing most of 2 years with TJ surgery he was on a short leash and a hard pitch count (most pitches in any game was 99) and, according to FG, never threw a slider. This is a guy who was taken #4 overall in the 2011 amateur draft and rated the #2, #2 and #4 prospect by Baseball America, MLB and BP respectively before the 2013 season (and before going under the knife).

Money quote:

That pattern of usage shows that Bundy knows just how good his slider is, and that he’s not afraid to use it at a liberal rate. That’s not to say that the curve is bad, of course. It’s a good pitch in its own right, and it’s one he can throw for a strike. That’s a very, very dangerous combination for hitters. If Bundy can keep doing that, especially with this slider, he’s going to be a stud.

Is this a sign of things to come? It certainly could be. Bundy’s secondary stuff looked virtually unhittable, and he was locating it. The Orioles didn’t allow Bundy to throw his slider until now, even though it’s very likely his best pitch. With it back in his arsenal, he’s incredibly dangerous now. He’s certainly got the pedigree that says he can reel off a bunch of starts like this against offensive teams like Toronto. If can do this, then the Orioles and their fans, and baseball fans in general, are in for a treat.

The Sox will face him on Tuesday at Fenway (likely Pomeranz's first start) if schedules hold and then again at Camden Yards on Saturday the 22nd so there'll be ample opportunity to see if the O's prodigy has finally arrived.

 

[jon abbey]

Keith Law said in his chat yesterday that Bundy's velocity was down in this start from last year, and way down by the end of the game, 88-90 FB I believe he said.

 

[StupendousMan]

From the most excellent pitchf/x site, it is clear that he _did_ lose velocity in his last two or three innings:

 

[bellowthecat]

When he was a big time prospect the word was that his best pitch was a nasty cut fastball. While in the minors the Os had him shelve it to focus on developing his command and other pitches. He didn't throw it last year in the bigs either because he felt it was contributing negatively to his arm health. Then back in January he said he was working it back into his routine without feeling any negative effects.

That was the last I'd read about him. After seeing the highlights from that outing all I can say is wow. It sure looks like a slider with that movement and speed, but I am still a bit curious if this is the same as the cutter he's always had or if he tinkered with it and turned it into a slider (the Buchholz development in reverse).

Regardless of what it's called, that pitch is nasty. He is going to miss a lot of bats with that if he can stay healthy. Not good for the Red Sox, but a good development for baseball and people who like to watch good pitching. The velocity drop off bares watching for sure, but first of all it's April and second of all he's thrown fewer than 300 total innings since he was drafted in 2011. There's still time for him to build endurance - he's only 24 - but even if he isn't ever able to maintain the stuff long enough to start he would be a very valuable reliever.