By Paul Folkemer

MLB.com named Orioles pitching prospect Dylan Bundy the No. 2 prospect in baseball on Jan. 29.

A 20-year-old power right-hander, Bundy was the Orioles' first-round pick (fourth overall) during the 2011 amateur draft, and is ranked behind only Texas Rangers infield prospect Jurickson Profar.

Bundy is considered a future ace, and he rocketed up the Orioles' organizational ranks in 2012, his first season in professional baseball after being drafted out of Owasso High School in Oklahoma. The Birds played it safe with Bundy at the beginning of the year, easing him in with two- and three-inning appearances at Single-A Delmarva, but stretched him out further during his stops at Single-A Frederick and Double-A Bowie and even gave him a September call-up to the big club at age 19.

Bundy pitched in two major league games out of the bullpen, and all told, he posted a 9-3 record with a 2.08 ERA during his three minor league stops. He struck out 119 batters during 103.2 innings.

Conventional wisdom holds that Bundy will begin the 2013 season in the minors with the possibility of a midseason call-up, but he said he didn't see it that way. In his mind, he'll be aiming for a spot in the Opening Day rotation.

"I think everybody's expectation is [pitching in] the big leagues," Bundy said. "Everybody goes to camp looking to break camp, and that's my goal. Anything's realistic if you work hard enough and you execute your pitches."

Even if he ultimately gets squeezed out of a crowded starters' competition, it likely won't be long before Bundy cracks the big-league roster for good.

"I'd be disappointed, but it'd just make me work harder to get to the big leagues sooner," he said. "I want to be there for a long time."

Posted Jan. 31, 2013