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Minnesota signed Bundy to add depth to a pitching staff that had no veteran presence at the time. The 29-year-old spent the last two years pitching in the Angels rotation with some up and down moments. Last season he posted a 6.06 ERA with a 1.36 WHIP in 90 2/3 innings. However, his 2020 campaign was his best as a big leaguer as he posted career-best totals in ERA (3.29), WHIP (1.03), K/9 (9.9), and BB/9 (0.7). He finished in the top-10 for the AL Cy Young, so how can the Twins get that version of Bundy?
Off-Speed Pitch Usage
One of the most significant changes in Bundy's repertoire last season was a switch in his off-speed pitch usage. During his breakout 2020 campaign, he used his slider 25% of the time, his changeup 21% of the time, and his sinker 8% of the time. His slider usage dropped nearly 4% last season, but the most significant change was with his sinker, which went up to 17.3% and became his third most used pitch.
Bundy's sinker was not very effective, so it's interesting that he used that pitch so regularly. Batters posted a .609 SLG when facing this pitch, which was over 100 points higher than any of his other pitches. His changeup was the pitch that saw the most considerable decrease in use last season, but he held batters to a .441 SLG against that pitch. Minnesota's coaching staff had all spring for him to concentrate on his pitch usage, and it seems likely for the club to want him to use more sliders and fewer sinkers.
Keep the Ball in the Park
Outside of 2020, Bundy posted a home run rate north of 1.4 HR/9 in every season. He cut that number in half during the shortened 2020 campaign as batters struggled to barrel up the ball. During that season, Bundy posted career-best totals in Barrel %, Hard Hit % and average exit velocity. For the first time in his career, he did an excellent job limiting home runs, which can be tricky for a flyball pitcher.
Minnesota's defense behind Bundy will be one of baseball's best, especially up the middle. Carlos Correa has already made multiple outstanding defensive plays in his limited time with the Twins. Byron Buxton can easily track down balls in the gap, which should help a flyball pitcher like Bundy. These defenders can't pull back every hard-hit home run, but they should help provide a solid defense to assist the team's pitching staff.
Fastball Spin
MLB cracked down on sticking substances last season, and some pitchers were impacted more than others. Bundy has ranked exceptionally well throughout his career in fastball spin, with him usually being in the 85th percentile or higher. One of his worst seasons for fastball spin was the 2020 campaign, when he ranked in the 80th percentile. Last season, his fastball spin was in the 89th percentile even though his velocity is below league average. Batters hit .237 with a .474 SLG against his fastball during the 2021 season.
Bundy is a crucial cog in the Twins' plan for the 2022 season, and his success or failure will go a long way in deciding the team's playoff fortunes. What will you be watching for with Bundy? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion.
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