Summary
If the Texas Longhorns were able to get Josh Bell, Matt Dean and Dylan Bundy to all honor their college commitments, they would easily be the favorites to win the Big 12 for the next three seasons and would have to be one of the top 5 teams in the country.
Unfortunately for all you Texas fans, that's a scenario which will surely not come to pass, since Bundy may be the best pitcher in this draft class, high school or not. Bundy throws his fastball in the upper 90's easily, has a curve in the 70's, a cutter in the high 80's and a mid 80's change.
That's right. Four pitches. Four good pitches from a high school pitcher. And Bundy may not even be the first pitcher taken in this draft. Heck, he may not be the second pitcher taken. That's how good a draft class this is.
Bundy is a dream scenario for many teams picking out of the top 2 or 3 in this draft, but don't expect him to fall far. Even with his reported asking price of a 6-year, 30 million dollar deal, someone is going to bite and bite soon.
Oh, and I didn't even mention the best part. Do you know what Bundy's preseason goals were? To hit 100 MPH, have a zero ERA and not to walk anyone. He didn't meet those goals, but he came darned close. He hit 100, had a 0.25 ERA and walked five batters. What a disappointment.
Floor
Every time you see a young arm throwing as fast as Bundy, immediately you have to jump to injuries. The names of guys like Colt Griffin or David Clyde jump to mind as high school guys pushed too fast. That's probably his floor, but only because of the history of high school guys. His actual talent level makes his floor more like a lock-down closer, which is still pretty darned good. Think Brad Lidge or Billy Wagner. As his floor.
Ceiling
Here the sky's the limit. Bundy has the stuff to be a No. 1 ace for a long time for whichever team drafts him. His fastball and two other plus pitches right now make him scary enough. Imagine once he learns how to pitch! Bundy could join Stephen Strasburg and Tim Lincecum as the best pitchers of the next decade.
College commitment
Texas
Will the Astros pick him? If so, where?
Um, no. There is no way,no how that Bundy falls to No. 11. The furthest he could go is No. 4 to the Orioles, who also drafted his brother recently. In fact, Bundy may go No. 1 overall to the Pirates, though his reported asking price may be a way to scare off Pittsburgh, since Bundy doesn't like the Pirates new organizational philosophy to cut out long toss programs. Either way, he's not going to be around when the Astros pick. Alas.
Where is he projected to go right now?
Keith Law has him at No. 4 to the Orioles.
Deep Leagues had him at No. 7 to the Diamondbacks.
Jonathan Mayo had him at No. 2 to the Mariners.
Perfect Game USA had him at No. 6 to the Nationals.
Baseball America had him at No. 4 to the Orioles.
John Sickels had him at No. 4 to the Orioles.
Bibliography (Scouting Reports and video)
Below the jump
The curveball and cutter are plus pitches, and the changeup is already an average offering. Bundy's feel for pitching is as impressive as his stuff. He has exceptional body control, allowing him to repeat his balanced, effortless delivery and locate his pitches with ease.
Bundy has stuff, command, and aggressiveness, and fewer question marks than any pitcher in this draft other than Gerrit Cole.
He will sit 93-96 right now on average, sometimes running it up to 98, and holds his velocity deep into his starts.
Potential three-pitch power RHS with plus stuff across the board. Durably built young power arm with chance to become staff anchor.