5 prospects who can help the Miami Marlins in 2019

3. RHP Robert Dugger

Robert Dugger has a 4.50 ERA over five starts for Double-A Jacksonville so far this season, but over his last two outings he has been pretty good (12 innings, 13 strikeouts, four walks and only five hits allowed). In his most recent outing as of this writing, he allowed two hits over seven shutout innings with seven strikeouts and two walks.

Between two levels last year, Dugger had 10 wins with a 3.40 ERA over 25 starts (150.2 innings), with three complete games and a 141:43 K/BB ratio (8.4 K.9; 2.6 BB/9).

The No. 22 prospect in Miami’s system, Dugger throws four pitches at an acceptable level (fastball, slider, curveball, changeup) and can throw them all for strikes. Some command issues have surfaced, with a 3.0 BB/9 over 18 Double-A starts last year becoming a 4.5 BB/9 so far this season, but if his last two starts are any indication, Dugger has ironed that out.

Dugger is not regarded as having great upside, with MLB.com pointing to him as a “tough competitor” who should become a “backend starter or bridge reliever for the Marlins.” There’s nothing wrong with any of that, and Dugger seems set to push himself into the mix for a spot on Miami’s staff this season.