Dylan Bundy Named National Player of the Year

Newson6.com

OWASSO, Oklahoma -- One day after being named the state's baseball player of the year, Owasso's Dylan Bundy has received the elite honor of being named the Gatorade National Player of the Year.

Bundy was surprised with the national honor Thursday at a youth baseball clinic by former All-Star Third Baseman Aaron Boone.

"It felt great to surprise Dylan with the Gatorade National Baseball Player of the Year award and welcome him into one of the most prestigious legacy programs in high school sports," said Boone.

The 6-foot-1, 200-pound pitcher and third baseman also makes national history as he is the nation's only three-time winner of the Gatorade State Baseball Player of the Year award since it was introduced 26 years ago.

Bundy is also only the second player from the state of Oklahoma to earn National Player of the Year honors, as Midwest City's A.J. Hinch received the same honor in 1991-1992.

Last season for Owasso he posted an 11-0 record with a 0.20 ERA along with 158 strikeouts and a mere five walks in 71 innings-pitched. His impressive play helped the Rams to the Class 6A State Final game where they took home the State Runner-Up Title.

In total, he tossed eight complete-game shutouts, one no-hitter and a save while allowing only two earned runs to score in 2011.

He finished his senior season with a 0.35 WHIP and opposing hitters managed just a 0.81 batting average against him. Bundy averaged 15.5 strikeouts per seven innings this year en route to a 31.6-to-1 strikeout to walk ratio.

On the offensive end, Bundy batted .467 while blasting 11 home runs along with 54 RBIs and 50 runs this spring for the Rams.

Bundy's accomplishments don't stop there. In 2010 he was named an Aflac and Under Armour All-American and a Rawlings First Team All-American in 2011.

Although Bundy has already signed a National Letter of Intent to play baseball on scholarship at the University of Texas this fall, he is projected as an early first-round selection in next week's Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.

"Bundy established himself as the best high school pitcher in this draft early in the spring and hasn't let up at all, pushing himself into top-5 pick consideration," said Keith Law, Senior Baseball Writer for ESPN.com. "Bundy has stuff, command, and aggressiveness with a big-league arsenal that includes a fastball up to 99 and an outstanding cutter. He throws strikes and attacks hitters on both sides of the plate. With great makeup, stuff, and track record, Bundy shouldn't get out of the top 10 picks."

In the classroom, Bundy maintained a 3.72 GPA and he has been involved with numerous local volunteer organizations serving the community and on service missions since 2009.

"Without question, Dylan is deserving of recognition as the nation's best high school baseball player based on his statistics on the field and the impact his accomplishments have had on Owasso High's success," said Gatorade Senior Vice President of Sports Marketing Jennifer Storms. "But he is also a shining example to peers and aspiring young athletes of what a leader and a student-athlete should be. He represents everything we hope for in a Gatorade Player of the Year recipient."

Since 1985 the Gatorade Company along with ESPN Rise has been honoring the nation's best high school athletes based on outstanding athletic excellence as well as high academic achievement and exemplary character on and off the playing field.

A national advisory panel comprised of sport-specific experts and sports journalists helped select Bundy from more than 472,644 baseball players nationwide. Bundy is now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade Male High School Athlete of the Year award, to be presented at a special ceremony prior to The ESPY Awards in July.