Top 10 MLB breakout candidates in 2017

5. Dylan Bundy

The Baltimore Orioles were in a difficult position last year with top prospect Dylan Bundy. One of the final players to receive a fully-guaranteed MLB deal coming out of the draft, Bundy was out of options. Normally, that would not have been a major issue, but the right-hander had spent the better part of three seasons nursing elbow and shoulder injuries. The Orioles were forced to throw Bundy to the fire with fewer than 70 innings thrown since 2012.

The fourth-overall pick in the 2011 draft handled his situation very well, doing whatever the Orioles asked of him. He began the year in the bullpen, and was stretched out to enter the rotation in the second half. All of the attributes that made Bundy such a can’t-miss prospect coming out of high school remained, and he finished the year 10-6 with a 4.02 ERA over 109.2 innings.

Bundy’s fastball, curve, and changeup all profile as plus-plus offerings at the big-league level, and he did not appear to have lost much polish on his pitches despite the missed time. He was confident and attacked hitters aggressively.

Bundy has a very good feel for all three of his pitches. It remains to be seen whether or not the Orioles will allow him to work his cutter back into the mix this season. That pitch, with slider-like action, will be his best pitch. With a full year of health under his belt, expect big things from Bundy this season.