Dulaney Grad Bumbry Following in Father's Footsteps

A young Steve Bumbry, just 3 years old at the time, walks around the Boston Red Sox’s clubhouse with his father, Al, a coach with the team. They navigate the locker room, talking to players and then watch from the field as Boston takes part in batting practice. The young boy looks on in amazement as players easily slugged the ball over Fenway Park’s historic 36-foot left field wall known as the “Green Monster.”

“I was just a little kid and I just thought that was the coolest thing,” recalled Bumbry, whose father, Al, played 14 major league seasons from 1972-85—mostly with the Orioles—before becoming a coach. “I just stood out there and thought, ‘Wow, maybe one day I’ll be able to hit the ball over the wall like them.’ And ever since then, I’ve known I wanted to follow in my father’s footsteps and be a major league player.”

Twenty years later, Bumbry is close to making that a reality.

The Timonium native starred as an outfielder for from 2002-06 prior to excelling in the same role at Virginia Tech for three seasons. He was later selected as a 12th round pick of the Baltimore Orioles in 2009—coincidentally the same team his father played for during 13 of his 14 major league seasons.

The younger Bumbry, now 23, has spent the last three years working his way through the Orioles’ minor league system, and currently plays for Class-A Frederick.

A three-time All-Metro selection at Dulaney, Bumbry was the Baltimore County Player of the Year as a senior in 2006 after batting .500 with 36 runs scored, a county-best eight home runs, 36 runs batted-in and 22 stolen bases. He also earned team MVP honors as a junior following a season during which he hit .434 with 33 runs scored, seven home runs, 39 RBI and 32 stolen bases. He also batted .468 as a sophomore.

At Virginia Tech, Bumbry hit 17 home runs in three years with the Hokies, including 15 during his last two college seasons. He also reached base more than 40-percent of the time during those two seasons, posting a .417 on-base percentage.

In his first season in the Orioles’ organization, he played in 45 games for Class-A Short Season Aberdeen before moving on to Class-A Delmarva in 2010, where he hit .263 with 36 extra-base hits (23 doubles, nine triples, four home runs) in 105 games with the Shorebirds.

He is currently batting just .235 in 82 games with the Keys this year, but has drawn 56 walks and boasts a .371 on-base percentage. He has also tallied 27 extra-base hits, including 18 doubles and six home runs.

“This has been a good year overall, for both the team and for me,” said Bumbry, who has helped Frederick get off to a 66-41 start to the season. “I’ve really just been trying to learn the last few years, and I feel like I’ve matured a lot as a hitter and become a lot more disciplined. I’ve also kind of figured out my role, what kind of player the Orioles want me to be, and what will get me to the big leagues the quickest.”

Bumbry has also spent this season trying to become more versatile defensively, having spent time at all three outfield positions, something which has impressed Keys batting coach Mike Devereaux, who played 12 major league seasons as an outfielder from 1987-98. Devereaux has also seen noticeable improvement from Bumbry at the plate.

“Steve has had a good year,” Devereaux said. “I’ve definitely seen improvement, and, as long as he continues to improve, he’ll be very successful.”

And, while his immediate goal is helping the Keys win the Carolina League championship, Bumbry hopes to continue that progression, work his way through the Orioles organization and one day, like his father, be able to play in Baltimore.

“It’s really hard to put into words how special that would be,” Bumbry said. “I want to be a major leaguer for the Baltimore Orioles, hopefully sooner rather than later, and at some point during the next couple years. Right now, though, I’m just focused on continuing to develop and trying to contribute to the Keys.”

He added, “It would be extremely special to wear the Oriole uniform with the Bumbry name on the back again.”