The Buggman Cometh: Miami Marlins 2018 Review

Throughout the 2018/2019 offseason, Marlin Maniac will devote one article each for every player who appeared in the Miami Marlins system for the 2018 season. Every. Single. Player. This is Part 104 of 286. For the first 100, click here.

Parker Brent Bugg is a 6’6″, 210 lb. right-handed pitcher from Louisville, Kentucky. Born on October 26th, 1994, Bugg was chosen in the 2013 draft in the 34th round by the Baltimore Orioles.

Bugg did not sign with Baltimore, electing instead to matriculate to LSU. In three seasons of Tigers baseball, Bugg appeared in 80 games for them, 79 in relief. He was 4-6 with a 2.64 ERA 100 strikeouts in 111 innings, and a very nice 1.02 WHIP. In 2016, the Miami Marlins chose him in the 27th round, with the 803rd overall selection.

Players chosen 803rd overall have made it to the majors on six-of-47 occasions, or 12 percent of the time. The group is led by Rick Aguilera (1980, St. Louis Cardinals, 21.9 career WAR), Martin Maldonado (2004, Anaheim Angels, 5.2 WAR), and Rico Rossy (1985, Baltimore Orioles, 1.4 WAR).

After signing with the Miami Marlins, Bugg joined the short-season-A Batavia Muckdogs in the New York-Penn League. He would spend that first half-season back-and-forth between the single-A Greensboro Grasshoppers in the South Atlantic League and Batavia. In 19 total appearances, Bugg went 1-0 with four saves, walking eight and striking out 27 in 34 innings. His 0.912 WHIP was also largely dependent on his only allowing opposing batters to hit .189 against him in 136 plate appearances. He was especially dominant in July, allowing hitters to go just five-of-42 over 12 2/3 innings. You can follow Bugg on Twitter @The_Buggman.

2017 would see Bugg battle injury, and thus appear in less games. In 18 games with Greensboro, Bugg went 2-3 with a 5.04 ERA, 35 K’s in 30 1/3 innings, and a 1.52 WHIP. That’s a far cry from what he did in 2016, but he took a giant step forward in 2018.

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Bugg’s fastball clocked from 88-91 MPH at the time of his selection, but that jumped to a 90-94 MPH range at some point. His strikeout numbers took a corresponding step forward.

Bugg led the high-A Jupiter Hammerheads in the Florida State League in 2018 with 37 appearances, including one start. From June 1st through the season’s end, he held the opposition to a .171/.209/.279 slashline over 40 innings. He had his best stuff on June 28th, when he struck out six over 3 1/3 scoreless two-hit innings in a 5-0 loss to the St. Lucie Mets (see video, above).

Bugg turned in a 10.8 K/9 rate over 67 1/3 innings in total for Jupiter, with 81 whiffs and a 0.921 WHIP. He was 2-1 with a 3.07 ERA, and walked only 13.

Bugg’s performance should be rewarded with a trip to the double-A Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp for the 2019 campaign. Continued progression will see him get a look at the major league level sometime in 2020.

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