 The Florida Marlins signed Bautista on June 21 , 2000 , and assigned him to the Gulf Coast Marlins , their rookie @-@ level minor league affiliate . He started 11 games for the Marlins , posting a 6 – 2 win – loss record with an earned run average ( ERA ) of 2 @.@ 43 and 17 walks . He was tied for second in the league in wins ( along with six other pitchers behind Jeff Randazzo 's seven ) , second in the league in ERA ( behind Yoel Hernández 's 1 @.@ 35 ) , tied for second with 58 strikeouts ( along with Randazzo behind Manuel <unk> 's 77 ) , third in the league with 63 innings pitched ( behind Randazzo 's 68 2 ⁄ 3 and <unk> 's 64 2 ⁄ 3 ) , and tied for second in the league in complete games with two ( tied with Hernández behind Randazzo 's three ) . He also appeared in one game for the Single @-@ A short season Utica Blue Sox of the New York – Penn League that year . He split 2001 between Utica and the Single @-@ A Kane County Cougars of the Midwest League , going a combined 6 – 2 with an ERA of 3 @.@ 23 , 51 strikeouts , 20 walks , and 78 1 ⁄ 3 innings pitched in 15 games ( 14 starts ) . In the playoffs , he pitched a shutout for the Cougars , allowing just one hit , striking out eight , and helping the Cougars win their first Midwest League title . 
