Miami Marlins Season Review: Lefty Starter Dillon Peters

Dillon Peters started the 2018 season in the mix for a Miami Marlins rotation spot. After a season in the mostly spent in the minors, he’s joined the Los Angeles Angels via trade.

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 198 of 286. For the first 100, click here.

Dillon James Peters is a 5’9″, 195 lb. left-handed pitcher from Indianapolis, Indiana. Peters is the 39th player to originate from the city. Born on August 31st, 1992, Peters was chosen out of Cathedral HS in his hometown in the 20th round of the 2011 MLB Amateur Entry Draft. Instead of signing, he matriculated to the University of Texas for three seasons of Big 12 ball. In 50 games, including 38 starts, he was 17-7 with a 2.26 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP in 205 2/3 innings. He struck out 153 batters while walking only 63. You can follow Peters on Twitter @Dillypickz.

Peters’ patience paid off in the 2014 draft, when the Miami Marlins chose him in the 10th round, 287th overall. Eight players selected at that position have made it to the major leagues, led by Clint Barmes (2000, Colorado Rockies, 15.6 career WAR), Dave Bergman (1971, Chicago Cubs, 6.7 WAR), Aaron Altherr (2009, Philadelphia Phillies, 2.5 WAR), and Nick Wittgren (2012, Miami Marlins, 1.0 WAR).

After coming to terms with the Marlins for a $175,000 bonus, Peters reported to the GCL Marlins, in the rookie-level, Florida-based Gulf Coast League in 2015. After allowing only one run in 13 innings of work, along with a sub-1 WHIP, he spent the remainder of the season with the short-season-A Batavia Muckdogs in the New York-Penn League. Here he is with the Harwich Mariners in the Cape Cod League.

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Peters made stops with the high-A Jupiter Hammerheads in the Florida State League and the Jacksonville Suns in the double-A Southern League in 2016, totaling a 14-6 record with a 2.38 ERA over 24 combined starts. He struck out 105 and racked up a 1.08 WHIP over 128 2/3 innings of work. His effort paid off as he was rated the number five prospect in the Miami Marlins system by both the MLB Pipeline and Baseball America following the season.

2017 would see Peters bide his time in the Marlins system between the Hammerheads and the renamed Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp until September. When the major league roster expanded on the first of that month, Peters was called up to join the rotation. By GameScore, his best start of the season was his first, when he struck out eight over seven shutout three-hit innings in a 2-1 loss to the Phillies.

Over six starts in his first major league look, Peters went 1-2 with a 5.17 ERA and 27 K’s in 31 innings, along with a 1.63 WHIP. He entered the season with a real shot at making the Marlins 2018 Opening Day rotation. He started the fourth game of the season (see above), earning a victory in a 6-0 shutout of the Cubs by pitching six scoreless six-hit innings.

Peters lasted in the rotation for four more starts through April, and one relief appearance in May. He went 2-2 through that time, with a 6.31 ERA. His time with the New Orleans Baby Cakes, in the triple-A Pacific Coast League, would see him go 6-7 over 19 starts, with a 5.61 ERA and a 1.54 WHIP in 102 2/3 innings. After the season, Peters was designated for assignment, and a day later got traded to the Los Angeles Angels for Tyler Stevens.

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