Dylan Bundy's odds of signing with the Orioles are '50-50'

Dylan Bundy’s stock is rising, and he knows it. Last week the Orioles’ first-round pick was named the "Baseball America" High School Player of the Year and "USA Today" National Player of the Year. Add those honors to Bundy’s Gatorade National Baseball Player of the Year award, and he is just the fifth player since 1994 to sweep the trio of awards.

The others are Doug Million (1994), Matt White (1996), Drew Henson (1998) and Justin Upton (2005).

Bundy, who is asking for a $30 million, five-year contract from the Orioles, is hedging his bet by signing with Eastern Oklahoma State College. Because it’s a junior college, Bundy could leave after one year and re-enter the 2012 MLB draft. The 6-foot-1, 205 pound righty has also signed with the University of Texas, but if he went to Austin he would have to wait three years before re-entering the draft.

In a story in the "Tulsa World," Bundy’s father, Denver, put the odds of him signing with the Orioles at “50-50.”

“We’re trying to fill some of our other options if he doesn’t sign,” Denver Bundy said. “I don’t know if it will help us in our negotiations, but it gives us another option if we have a change of heart about going to Texas.”

Robbie Levin, a Northwestern student, is an intern at The Baltimore Sun. Our fine interns will contribute guest posts to Baltimore Sports Blitz this summer. Contact Levin at [e-mail].