EVEN-KEELED ACE

The Angels’ Dylan Bundy has succeeded in ways that would not have been predicted a decade ago

KYLE GLASER

When the Orioles drafted Dylan Bundy fourth overall in 2011, the celebrated Oklahoma high school star was expected to be a frontline starter for years to come.

Nine years later, after a winding and circuitous route, that projection finally came to fruition.

Bundy emerged as one of the American League’s top pitchers in a breakout 2020 season with the Angels. Through nine starts, the 27-year-old right-hander had a 2.48 ERA, third lowest in the AL. He ranked second in the AL in innings (58), fourth in WHIP (0.95) and fifth in strikeouts (67) and opponent average (.190).

“Even from the side, when you’re standing at the field level, it’s the real deal,” Angels manager Joe Maddon said after an early-season start against the Mariners. “The pitches are real sharp, the swings are not good and the takes are bad. You see that kind of performance and his total package—the competitive nature, the way he’s processing everything he’s doing right now—I don’t know the last time he pitched this well.”