Dugger Tosses Five Innings in MLB Debut

Former Red Raider made his MLB debut for the Miami Marlins on Monday.

 

LUBBOCK, Texas – Former Texas Tech right-handed pitcher Robert Dugger made his Major League Baseball debut as the starting pitcher of the Miami Marlins on Monday afternoon during a 6-2 loss at the New York Mets at Citi Field in New York City.

Dugger became the 30th Red Raider to make his MLB debut, pitching five innings and allowing six runs (6 ER) on five hits with three strikeouts and four walks. He gave up a home run with his first pitch in the bottom of the first before settling in to manage a 2-1 deficit through three. Dugger exited the game with the Marlins trailing 6-1 after throwing 85 pitches (49 strikes) through five frames.

Dugger, 24, is the sixth Red Raider to tally at least five innings pitched during an MLB debut – while becoming just the eighth Tech pitcher to make a start for his big-league debut.

A member of Texas Tech’s 2016 club, Dugger is the first former Red Raider to make his big league debut since Kelby Tomlinson in 2015 with the San Francisco Giants. At 24 years, one month and two days, he is tied with Keith Ginter (1997-98) for the sixth youngest Red Raider to make an MLB debut.

After a shaky start, Dugger settled in and gave up just one more hit through three innings, another solo home run that made it 2-1. He struck out Pete Alonso twice, including once in the first inning for his first career MLB strikeout.

A pair of free passes came back to bite Dugger in the fourth as Mets starter Jacob deGrom came through with a two-run single that made it 4-1. Dugger found his way out of trouble, however, with 6-4 double play.  In the fifth, an RBI single and sacrifice fly gave the Mets a 6-1 lead, but Dugger allowed no further damage as he retired the next two batters to end the fifth.

Dugger joined the Marlins in Tampa Bay on Sunday after receiving the call up from Triple-A New Orleans where he went 2-3 in seven starts. Dugger was previously promoted earlier this season from the Double-A affiliate in Jacksonville, Fla., where he tallied a 6-6 mark with a 3.31 ERA in 13 starts.

Dugger was a key piece of the bullpen for a loaded Red Raider pitching staff in 2016 that led Tech to its second College World Series in program history. An honorable mention All-Big 12 relief pitcher, he made 30 appearances with a 6-1 record and three saves with a 2.67 ERA in 60.2 innings of work.

Dugger was selected 537th overall in the 18th round of the 2016 MLB Draft by the Seattle Mariners before being traded to Miami in 2017. He came to Texas Tech by way of Cisco Junior College, where he played from 2015-16. Prior to Cisco, he led Tomball High School to the Texas Class 4A state title as a senior.

TEXAS TECH PLAYERS MAKING MAJOR LEAGUE DEBUT:

Robert Dugger – MLB Debut 8/5/19 – Miami Marlins (RHP)

Kelby Tomlinson – MLB Debut 8/3/15 – San Francisco Giants (SS, 2B)

Daniel Coulombe (2011-12) – MLB Debut 9/16/14 – Los Angeles Dodgers (LHP)

Chad Bettis (2008-10) – MLB Debut 8/1/13 – Colorado Rockies (RHP)

Roger Kieschnick (2006-08) – MLB Debut 7/31/13 – San Francisco Giants (OF)

Colt Hynes (2006-07) – MLB Debut 7/14/13 – San Diego Padres (LHP)

Nathan Karns (2008-09) – MLB Debut 5/28/13 – Washington Nationals (RHP)

AJ Ramos (2006-09) – MLB Debut 9/4/12 – Miami Marlins (RHP)

Zach Stewart (2008) – MLB Debut 6/16/11 – Toronto Blue Jays (RHP)

Josh Tomlin (2006) – MLB Debut 7/27/10 – Cleveland Indians (RHP)

Dustin Richardson (2005-06) – MLB Debut 9/28/09 – Boston Red Sox (LHP)

Dallas Braden (2004) – MLB Debut 4/24/07 – Oakland Athletics (LHP)

Jeff Karstens (2003) – MLB Debut 8/22/06 – New York Yankees (RHP)

Chris Sampson (1999) – MLB Debut 6/2/06 – Houston Astros (RHP)

Joe Dillon (1996-97) – MLB Debut 5/18/05 – Florida Marlins (1B)

Steve Watkins (1998) – MLB Debut 8/21/04 – San Diego Padres (RHP)

Trey Lunsford (1999-2000) – MLB Debut 9/12/02 – San Francisco Giants (C)

Josh Bard (1997-99) – MLB Debut 8/23/02 – Colorado Rockies (C)

Travis Driskill (1991-93) – MLB Debut 4/26/02 – Cleveland Indians (RHP)

Stubby Clapp (1996) – MLB Debut 6/18/01 – St. Louis Cardinals (2B)

Matt Miller (1994-96) – MLB Debut 5/8/01 – Detroit Tigers (LHP)

Keith Ginter (1997-98) – MLB Debut 9/20/00 – Houston Astros (2B)

Brandon Kolb (1995) – MLB Debut 5/12/00 – San Diego Padres (RHP)

Travis Smith (1994-95) – MLB Debut 6/21/98 – Milwaukee Brewers (RHP)

Ryan Nye (1994) – MLB Debut 6/7/97 – Philadelphia Phillies (RHP)

Mark Brandenburg (1991-92) – MLB Debut 7/20/95 – Texas Rangers (RHP)

Donald Harris (1988-89) – MLB Debut 9/4/91 – Texas Rangers (OF)

Mike Humphreys (1985-88) – MLB Debut 7/29/91 – New York Yankees (LF)

Doug Ault (1971-72) – MLB Debut 9/6/76 – Texas Rangers (1B/LF)

Chuck Harrison (1961-62) – MLB Debut 9/15/65 – Houston Astros (1B)

–TECH–

Ty Parker