Dylan Bundy is a professional baseball player who signed with the Minnesota Twins on December 1, 2021. The right-handed pitcher made 29 starts for the Twins in the 2022 season, posting an 8-8 record and a 4.89 ERA with 94 strikeouts in 140.0 innings pitched.
While Bundy’s performance was not exceptional, he provided a much-needed boost to the Twins’ pitching staff. In this blog post, we’ll explore how the Twins acquired Bundy, what their pitching needs were at the time, and how Bundy performed with the team during the 2022 season.
We’ll also discuss whether the Twins made a good decision in signing Bundy and what the future may hold for him and the team.
Who is Dylan Bundy?
Dylan Bundy is a 29-year-old right-handed pitcher from Oklahoma. He was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the first round of the 2011 MLB draft and made his major league debut with the team in 2012.
Bundy spent seven seasons with the Orioles, posting a 38-45 record and a 4.67 ERA in 127 starts and 58 relief appearances.
In 2020, Bundy signed a one-year contract with the Los Angeles Angels and had a breakout season, going 6-3 with a 3.29 ERA in 11 starts. This performance led to him becoming a free agent in the offseason, and he eventually signed with the Minnesota Twins on December 1, 2021.
Bundy is known for his four-seam fastball, slider, and changeup, and he typically throws his fastball around 92-93 mph.
His slider is particularly effective, as it has a high whiff rate and generates a lot of swings and misses. One weakness of Bundy’s is that he has a tendency to give up home runs, which can be problematic in hitter-friendly ballparks.
Overall, Bundy brings a solid track record of durability and consistency to the Twins’ pitching staff. While he may not be an elite pitcher, he has shown that he can be a reliable starter who can eat up innings and keep his team in games.
The Twins’ Pitching Needs
Heading into the 2022 season, the Minnesota Twins had several holes to fill in their starting rotation. The team had struggled with pitching in the previous season, finishing with the second-worst team ERA in the American League.
The Twins’ ace, Kenta Maeda, was recovering from a season-ending injury, and the team lacked depth behind him.
To address their pitching needs, the Twins signed Dylan Bundy to a one-year contract with a club option for the 2023 season. Bundy was seen as a potential mid-rotation starter who could help solidify the team’s pitching staff.
While he may not be a dominant force on the mound, he had shown in the past that he could be a reliable innings-eater who could keep his team in games.
Bundy’s signing was part of a larger effort by the Twins to overhaul their pitching staff. The team also signed veteran left-hander J.A. Happ to a one-year deal and traded for right-hander Jose Berrios in the middle of the 2021 season.
The hope was that these moves would help improve the team’s overall performance on the mound and give them a chance to compete in a tough American League Central division.
While the Twins’ pitching staff continued to struggle at times during the 2022 season, Bundy provided some stability in the rotation. He made 29 starts and pitched 140.0 innings, which was the second-highest total on the team behind rookie Bailey Ober.
Bundy’s performance may not have been spectacular, but he was able to eat up innings and keep the Twins in games, which was valuable given the team’s overall struggles.
The Acquisition Process
The process by which the Minnesota Twins acquired Dylan Bundy began when Bundy became a free agent after the 2021 season. As a free agent, Bundy was free to sign with any team that made him an offer.
However, the Twins were not the only team interested in Bundy’s services. Other teams reportedly inquired about Bundy, including the Los Angeles Angels, Bundy’s former team.
After considering multiple offers, Bundy ultimately decided to sign with the Minnesota Twins on December 1, 2021. The terms of the contract were a one-year deal with a club option for the 2023 season. The financial details of the contract were not disclosed.
Bundy’s signing was seen as a cost-effective move by the Twins to add depth to their pitching staff. Given Bundy’s solid track record and previous success, he was a desirable target for several teams.
However, the Twins were able to convince him to sign with them by offering him a chance to compete for a spot in the starting rotation and a chance to rebound from a down year with the Angels in 2021.
Overall, the acquisition process for Bundy was a competitive one, with multiple teams expressing interest in the right-hander. However, the Twins were ultimately successful in signing him to a contract that provided them with a potential mid-rotation starter for the 2022 season.
Bundy’s Performance With the Twins
Dylan Bundy made 29 starts for the Minnesota Twins in the 2022 season, posting an 8-8 record and a 4.89 ERA with 94 strikeouts in 140.0 innings pitched.
While Bundy’s performance was not dominant, he was able to provide the Twins with a reliable arm in the starting rotation and logged the second-most innings on the team.
One notable achievement for Bundy was his ability to stay healthy and take the ball every fifth day. He made 29 starts, which tied for the second-most starts in his career.
Bundy was also able to log at least five innings in 25 of his 29 starts, which helped to save the bullpen from excessive usage.
On the other hand, one notable struggle for Bundy was his tendency to give up home runs. He allowed 26 home runs in his 29 starts, which was tied for the second-most in the American League.
This was a recurring issue throughout Bundy’s career, and it continued to plague him during his time with the Twins.
Despite this weakness, Bundy was able to provide value to the Twins as a reliable mid-rotation starter. He was able to eat up innings and keep his team in games, which was valuable given the team’s overall struggles on the mound.
While his performance may not have been dominant, Bundy’s presence in the rotation helped to stabilize a pitching staff that had struggled throughout the season.
Dylan Bundy’s Performance With the Minnesota Twins in 2022
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Record | 8-8 |
| ERA | 4.89 |
| Innings Pitched (IP) | 140.0 |
| Games Started | 29 |
| Strikeouts | 94 |
| Home Runs Allowed (HR) | 26 |
This table provides a quick overview of some of the key statistics for Dylan Bundy’s performance with the Twins in 2022. The table includes his record, ERA, innings pitched, games started, strikeouts, and home runs allowed.
This information could be useful for comparing Bundy’s performance to other pitchers on the team or for assessing his overall performance relative to league averages.
FAQs
Did Bundy have any injuries or health concerns during the 2022 season with the Twins?
There were no reported injuries or health concerns for Dylan Bundy during the 2022 season with the Minnesota Twins. He was able to make 29 starts and log 140.0 innings pitched, suggesting that he was able to stay healthy throughout the season.
How did Bundy’s performance with the Twins compare to his previous seasons?
Dylan Bundy’s performance with the Twins in 2022 was fairly consistent with his previous seasons. His ERA of 4.89 was slightly higher than his career ERA of 4.56, but it was in line with his performance over the past few seasons. Bundy’s strikeout rate was also consistent with his career average, suggesting that he did not experience any significant decline in his performance.
Did the Twins make any other moves to improve their pitching staff in 2022?
Yes, the Twins made several moves to improve their pitching staff during the 2022 season. They acquired pitcher Jon Gray from the Colorado Rockies in a mid-season trade and also signed several free agent pitchers, including José Berríos and Alex Cobb. However, the team still struggled on the mound, finishing near the bottom of the league in several pitching categories.
Did Bundy express any interest in returning to the Twins for the 2023 season?
There has been no reported comment from Dylan Bundy regarding his interest in returning to the Minnesota Twins for the 2023 season. The team has a club option for his services in 2023, but it remains to be seen whether they will exercise that option or pursue other options in free agency or via trade.
Conclusion
The Minnesota Twins signed Dylan Bundy to a one-year contract with a club option for the 2023 season in December 2021. Bundy provided the Twins with a reliable arm in the starting rotation throughout the 2022 season, making 29 starts and logging the second-most innings on the team.
While Bundy struggled with giving up home runs, he was able to provide value by keeping the Twins in games and eating up innings.
The acquisition of Bundy was seen as a cost-effective move by the Twins to add depth to their pitching staff, and he delivered on that expectation by providing the team with solid innings throughout the season.
It remains to be seen whether the Twins will exercise their club option for Bundy’s services in 2023, but his performance in 2022 suggests that he could be a valuable asset to the team moving forward.
