Younger Bumbry Hoping to Feel a Draft

Son of former O's great could be drafted, but also would be happy to return to school for his senior year

"I can tell him things he should do and things he should look for, but the actual step-by-step mental approach to the game, I wasn't very good at explaining that to him," Al Bumbry said. "The game can be very difficult mentally. That's more than half the battle."

Al Bumbry kept a low profile in the MASN booth during Orioles Blogger Night as did his son, Steve, who joined him for the game. However, the younger Bumbry is hoping to maintain a higher profile in the MLB draft.

From The American Chronicle: "Virginia Tech junior outfielder Steve Bumbry, the son of former Baltimore Orioles star Al Bumbry (a King George native), is the No. 146 prospect, according to the Real Baseball Intelligence (RBI) Draft Guide. Steve Bumbry, a native of Cockeysville, Md., hit .283 and led the Hokies with 10 home runs in 2009."

Here are a couple of Steve Bumbry bios from Hokiesports.com: 2007, 2009. Also worth reading is Aaron McFarling's profile of Steve Bumbry that includes plenty of quotes from his dad.

Virginia Tech center fielder Steve Bumbry understands that he is fortunate. He knows that not many college baseball players have gotten birthday wishes from one of the greatest right-handed hitters of all time.

Not many have played video games in a minor-league clubhouse with CC Sabathia, who's now the highest-paid pitcher in the game.

Not many have shagged flies in the outfields of major-league ballparks, chatting with big-league players.

"It's just been a great experience," he says. "I really don't think I would trade anything for it."

But entitlement? There is no sense of entitlement for Steve Bumbry. And that might be the best thing about him.

...

"I can tell him things he should do and things he should look for, but the actual step-by-step mental approach to the game, I wasn't very good at explaining that to him," Al Bumbry said. "The game can be very difficult mentally. That's more than half the battle."

...

Bumbry is eligible to be drafted in June -- the Orioles have seen him play more than anyone -- but he'd be happy to stay his senior year, too. Already he's helped turn around a program that had struggled, and he'd like to earn his degree in business management and entrepreneurship.

Press Box and The Examiner have done past profiles of Steve Bumbry.


Image sources: Cardboard Gods, HokieSports.com (Click photos for links to originals.)