Dillon Peters

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Miami Marlins #11 prospect in 2018
  A highly-regarded prep lefthander out of Indianapolis in 2011, Peters turned down several big-money offers to pitch at Texas for three seasons. Listed at just 5-foot-9, Peters was highly successful at Texas, where he went 17-7, 2.26 in 50 appearances (38 starts). Despite a strong college pedigree, he fell to the 10th round in 2014 after he required Tommy John surgery. Peters eventually signed with the Marlins for $175,000 and made 48 minor league starts over three years before making his big league debut as a September callup in 2017. Peters' height can be a bit deceiving, because he throws a lively fastball that can reach the mid-90s with sink. Pitching mostly in the 91-94 mph range, he maintains his velocity and his command was consistently praised in the minors. Peters' curveball has a tight rotation and can flash above-average at times, while his changeup has some depth and is considered at least average. His command allows his stuff to play up. After making six starts for the Marlins in 2017, Peters will contend for a big league rotation spot in 2018. But with just 68 innings above high Class A, he could open the season at Triple-A New Orleans. He projects as a No. 4 starter.
• 
  Ranked Miami Marlins #5 prospect in 2017
  The "p" in the Peters family stands for pitching. His grandfather pitched semipro ball, and his father Mark pitched in college and coached Dillon in travel ball. A prep star in Indianapolis, Peters turned down big offers out of high school (the Indians drafted him in the 20th round in 2011) to go to Texas. He thrived there (17-7, 2.26) until hurting his elbow in May 2014. The Marlins drafted him that year knowing he needed Tommy John surgery and signed him for $175,000. He finished 2016 at Double-A Jacksonville. After touching 96 mph in high school, Peters' velocity stepped back in college to the 88-92 range. But following surgery, recovery and rehabilitation, his velocity ticked back up in 2016 to where he was touching 96 mph and sitting 93-94 with sink. More impressively, the smallish lefty maintained his velocity late into games with the above-average command he had as an amateur. His curveball has tight spin and is at least an average pitch and flashes above-average. His changeup is solid-average as well. In addition, Peters has a bulldog mentality that helps his stuff play up. Even at 5-foot-9, Peters has big league stuff and command, and he has positioned himself to help in Miami as soon as 2017. He should return to Jacksonville to begin 2017, but with his poise and makeup, could jump right to the majors if the need arises. He projects as a No. 4 starter.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #112 prospect in 2014 draft
  Pitching runs in Peters' family. His grandfather pitched semipro ball, and his father Mark pitched in college and has coached Dillon in travel ball. Peters had a dominant prep career in Indiana but had a strong commitment to Texas, so he didn't sign with the Indians, who drafted him in the 20th round in 2011. He has been the Longhorns' best pitcher over the last two seasons. Peters touched 96 mph and pitched with a firm 90-94 heater in high school, but scouts noted his high-effort delivery, and his velocity has stepped backward in college. He impresses scouts more with his feel for pitching and ability to locate his stuff, starting with a solid-average fastball in the 88-92 mph range. He spins a curveball, though it's not a plus pitch, and his changeup is solid-average as well. Peters missed a start in early May following surgery to relieve blockage of a salivary gland that was leaving him with dry mouth on the mound and showed no ill effects in his return, throwing the first seven innings of a combined no-hitter at Kansas State. Peters could be one of the fastest-moving pitchers in the class thanks to his polish and control, but his 5.5 strikeouts per nine innings hints at his back-of-the-rotation ceiling.

• December, 2016 Scouting Report
  Background: The "p" in the Peters family stands for pitching. His grandfather pitched semipro ball, and his father Mark pitched in college and coached Dillon in travel ball. A prep star in Indianapolis, Peters turned down big offers out of high school (the Indians drafted him in the 20th round in 2011) to go to Texas. He thrived there (17-7, 2.26) until hurting his elbow in May 2014. The Marlins drafted him that year knowing he needed Tommy John surgery and signed him for $175,000. He finished 2016 at Double-A Jacksonville. Scouting Report: After touching 96 mph in high school, Peters' velocity stepped back in college to the 88-92 range. But following surgery, recovery and rehabilitation, his velocity ticked back up in 2016 to where he was touching 96 mph and sitting 93-94 with sink. More impressively, the smallish lefty maintained his velocity late into games with the above-average command he had as an amateur. His curveball has tight spin and is at least an average pitch and flashes above-average. His changeup is solid-average as well. In addition, Peters has a bulldog mentality that helps his stuff play up.
  
  The Future: Even at 5-foot-9, Peters has big league stuff and command, and he has positioned himself to help in Miami as soon as 2017. He should return to Jacksonville to begin 2017, but with his poise and makeup, could jump right to the majors if the need arises. He projects as a No. 4 starter.