Bundy will 'have to get used to' likely relief role with Orioles

More than three years have passed since Dylan Bundy, then 19, made his debut with the Baltimore Orioles, promoted to the big leagues one year after he was named Gatorade's high school player of the year.

His career was almost immediately derailed, as a prolonged recovery from Tommy John surgery has kept Bundy out of the majors since his 2012 debut, but the resilient right-hander is finally poised to return to the Orioles. With no minor-league options remaining - he would be exposed to waivers if the Orioles were to try to send back to the minors - Bundy is primed to land a spot on Baltimore's 25-man roster, albeit in a relief role he hasn't filled since his first stint in the bigs.

"It's something I'll have to get used to again, but it's just kind of shortening your routine and not being able to throw long-toss before the game," he told Roch Kubatko of MASN. "You've just got to get used to warming up quicker at 60 feet, 6 inches instead of 120 feet or 150 feet as a starter."

Bundy missed all of 2013 after having his ulnar collateral ligament replaced, and hasn't thrown more than 41 1/3 innings in each of the last two seasons, so the 23-year-old isn't being considered for a starting role, though he would relish the opportunity to return to the rotation in 2017.

"I try not to look into the future that far ahead," Bundy said. "I'm looking more toward spring training right now. But, yeah, get some innings under my belt out of the 'pen and then if I can be a starter the next year, that would make me happy."

Bundy, who crafted a 3.68 ERA with a 27.8 percent strikeout rate in eight starts for Double-A Bowie in 2015 before a brief stint in the Arizona Fall League, will likely provide middle relief in a bullpen that features two of the most effective relievers in the American League: Zach Britton and Darren O'Day.

"I'm looking forward to learning from the veteran guys like Darren O'Day," Bundy said. "Sitting out there in the bullpen, you can learn a lot just watching the games. Without even pitching in them, you can learn a lot."