| Parker Bugg | |
| Team: | Free agent |
| Position: | Pitcher |
| Birth Date: | 26 October 1994 |
| Birth Place: | Louisville, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Bats: | Right |
| Throws: | Right |
| Stat1label: | Win–loss record |
| Stat2label: | Earned run average |
| Stat3label: | Strikeouts |
Parker Brent Bugg (born October 26, 1994) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He is currently a phantom ballplayer, having spent two days on the Miami Marlins’ active roster without appearing in a game.
Bugg played high school baseball at Rancho Bernardo High School[1] and college baseball for the LSU Tigers.[2]
Bugg was first drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 34th round of the 2013 Major League Baseball Draft out of high school, but he did not sign with Baltimore.[3] Three years later, he was drafted by the Miami Marlins in the 27th round 2016 Major League Baseball Draft and signed.[4] [5]
Bugg spent his first professional season split between the Low–A Batavia Muckdogs and Single–A Greensboro Grasshoppers. In 19 contests, he posted a 3.71 ERA with 27 strikeouts and 4 saves in 34.0 innings of work.[6] Bugg remained with Greensboro in 2017, pitching in 18 games and recording a 5.04 ERA with 35 strikeouts in innings.[7] He spent the 2018 season with the High–A Jupiter Hammerheads, making 37 appearances and logging a 3.07 ERA with 81 strikeouts across innings of work.[8] Following the season, he was named the "Jupiter MVP" by the Marlins organization.[9]
Bugg split the 2019 season between the Double–A Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp and Triple–A New Orleans Baby Cakes. In 41 combined appearances, he accumulated a 4–5 record and 5.64 ERA a with 75 strikeouts in 59.0 innings pitched.[10] He did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[11] In 2021, Bugg returned to Jacksonville, who were newly minted as a Triple–A club.[12] In 32 games, he pitched to a 4.46 ERA with 85 strikeouts in innings pitched.
On August 14, 2022, Bugg was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time alongside Andrew Nardi.[13] He went unused out of the bullpen, and was designated for assignment two days later after Cole Sulser was activated from the injured list, becoming a phantom ballplayer.[14] He cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple-A Jacksonville on August 19.[15] In 30 total games split between Jacksonville and the Double–A Pensacola Blue Wahoos, Bugg registered a 3.33 ERA with 54 strikeouts across innings of work.[16] He elected free agency following the season on November 10.[17]
On February 3, 2023, Bugg signed a minor league contract with the Minnesota Twins organization.[18] He was released by the organization on March 24.[19]
On April 22, 2023, Bugg signed with the Staten Island FerryHawks of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.[20] In 8 games for the team, he registered a 6.00 ERA with 16 strikeouts in 9.0 innings of work. On July 22, Bugg was released by Staten Island.[21]
On August 8, 2023, Bugg signed with the Gastonia Honey Hunters of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.[22] In 14 games for Gastonia, Bugg registered a 4.15 ERA with 17 strikeouts and 2 saves across 13 innings pitched.
On April 24, 2024, Bugg signed with the Lexington Legends of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.[23] In 6 games (2 starts) for Lexington, he compiled a 5.51 ERA with 12 strikeouts across innings pitched. Bugg was released by the Legends on July 26.[24]