The right handed pitcher had a rough season in 2021 with only 23 games played and a lengthy stay on the IL.
The Halos bullpen faced an unforgiving opponent this season — the Injured List. And while some players managed to slide by unscathed, right handed Dylan Bundy was not so lucky as his 2021 performance was limited to 23 games, 19 of which he started on the mound.
As Bundy fell victim to the slew of injuries that cursed the Angels roster, his record on the mound also took a nasty hit, resulting in a final 6.06 ERA and a record of 2-9. Bundy’s battle with the IL began early in the year with a right shoulder strain that landed him on the 10-day list on Aug. 25.
Before landing on the IL the first time, he had a couple of outings in August, but they were not reminiscent of the pitcher fans saw last year. In 2020, even with the shortened season, Bundy had a much better record of 6-3 and a 3.29 ERA after 11 games started on the mound.
His last outing of this season was on Aug. 24 when he pitched 1.1 innings against his former team, the Baltimore Orioles, but despite a solid effort, the game ended in a 2-1 loss for the Halos.
Unfortunately, the 29-year-old didn’t get much of a chance to make a comeback after that as his right shoulder strain returned with a vengeance on Sept. 23, and he yet again landed on the IL for 60 days.
2021 Stats
2 Wins / 9 Losses / 6.06 ERA / 23 Games / 19 Games Started / 90.2 Innings Pitched / 84 Strikeouts / 34 Walks / 1.36 WHIP / -.03 WAR / 89 Hits Allowed / 64 Runs Allowed / 20 Home Runs Allowed
Most Popular Pitches
While Bundy’s appearances may have been few and far between, his four-seam fastball was a sight for any fan who caught a game. His fastballs averaged around 90 MPH.
Since 2016, we’ve seen Bundy pull back on his percentage of fastballs thrown, but old habits die hard and the pitch is still a favorite, followed closely by his slider which was mostly used to shut out right-handed batters in the box. For left-handed batters, he relied heavily on changeup pitches, and his least favorite pitch fell to his curveballs, which made up about 13% of his total pitches this year.
Best Performance of the Year
Bundy’s best moments happened only a couple months ago with his start against the Texas Rangers on Aug. 5. His control on the mound coupled with a steady stream of unhittable fastballs gave the Rangers a run for their money, keeping them scoreless for 6.1 innings. He earned his second and final win of the season on this day after shutting down the Rangers lineup and giving the offense a chance to get hot — an opportunity that they did not miss.
His 6 strikeouts led the bullpen and gave the offense plenty of time to score their five winning runs. The game ended in a 5-0 win for the Halos, and #37 walked away with another win under his belt.
What to Expect in 2022:
It’s safe to say that the Halos Bullpen is effectively under construction, and with a new scouting director in Tim Mcllvaine, Bundy’s time on the Angels mound may be coming to an end after this year.
Bundy signed a one-year contract in 2019, and after a tumultuous year on the IL, his time with the Halos might be coming to a close as he will be a free agent in 2022. After playing for the Orioles for several years, it seems that Bundy’s bout in Anaheim was short-lived, especially amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and a losing battle with the IL.
However, if his shining moments this season are any indication, we think that Bundy has a bright future of growth, no matter where he goes.
2021 OVERALL GRADE: C+
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