Miami Marlins Prospect Watch: Dillon Peters

Tyler Kolek and Braxton Garrett aren’t the only highly regarded pitchers in the Miami Marlins farm system. Here’s a look at the guy right behind them.

Dillon Peters was ranked as the Miami Marlins 5^th ranked prospect at the start of the season by mlb.com.

Two other guys that were in the same spot at the same ranking in the minors were Marcell Ozuna and Adam Conley. Peters is currently a starting pitcher for the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp in Double-A.

Peters was drafted by the Fish in the 10^th round of the 2014 amateur draft. He was previously drafted out of high school Indians but opted to be a Texas Longhorn instead.

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Peters is a lefty and unlike the higher regarded guys mentioned early, he doesn’t have great size. At only 5’9, 195 pounds, he doesn’t possess the physical attributes you think of for a pitcher.

However, in baseball none of that matters. Just ask Tim Lincecum, former CY Young award winner. Peters is also one of the more productive players in all of the farm system currently.

Minor League Domination.

Peters currently boasts a career minors ERA of 2.67. In seven starts for the Jumbo Shrimp he has a minuscule ERA of 2.08. A stat that will make all Marlins fans smile is Peters has only given up 34 walks in 38 games started in the minors.

His BB/9 is 1.6, which seems unfathomable after what the Fish faithful have encountered this year. His SO/9 is also 7.7.

This shows that even though he can find the strike zone, he can also locate his pitches and get outs. Peters is very important to this organization for the present.

Unlike other guys who we’ll have to wait and see, his time could come this year. With the pitching staff the way it is, by August the Fish could be needing him.

As much as the Marlins would prefer to let him pitch and develop in Jacksonville, they might have no choice. With two starting pitchers on the DL and another sent down, the depth is being tested.

Last weekend, the Fish started Odrisamer Despaigne against the Mets. Despaigne hasn’t exactly been Nolan Ryan in his Major League career.

So come the end of the season, if Peters can keep this up, we will see him. It makes no sense to play older players who have no more upside over a kid who can be our next ace.

Next: Greatest Strength Showing Weakness

Peters has dominated the minors so far and could be looking at the call to the show sooner rather than later. He deserves a chance and is someone Marlins fans should get a little familiar with.