The Marlins will promote outfield prospect Griffin Conine before their game against the Rockies on Monday, the team announced. Conine is the son of two-time World Series champion Jeff Conine, known to fans as Mr. Marlin and widely considered one of the better players in the franchise’s history. The younger Conine, 27, is enjoying a solid season at Triple-A Jacksonville (19 home runs, .825 OPS). He will make his MLB debut as soon as he gets into a game.
Drafted by the Blue Jays in 2018, Griffin Conine joined the Marlins organization in 2020 as the player to be named later in a trade that sent Jonathan Villar to Toronto. He earned a promotion to Triple-A last August, and while he struggled at first, he has looked much more comfortable there this season, bringing down his strikeout rate and continuing to show off the power that has always been his strongest tool. The lefty slugger has hit especially well over the past three weeks, batting .310 and walking in 12.1% of his plate appearances. He has an .859 OPS and 127 wRC+ since August 3.
According to Christina De Nicola of MLB.com, Conine will not play every day. That said, the Marlins would not have called him up if they weren’t going to give him a good amount of playing time. Miami already has two lefty-batting corner outfielders on the roster – JesĂşs Sánchez and Kyle Stowers – but Conine could see plenty of reps as a DH against right-handed pitching.
The Marlins have not yet announced any corresponding moves, but De Nicola reports that the team will place shortstop Xavier Edwards on the 10-day IL, thereby opening a space for Conine on the active roster. Edwards, who is suffering from lower back pain, underwent an MRI yesterday. The scan came back negative, but evidently, the club believes he needs more time off his feet.
The Marlins will also need to free up space for Conine on the 40-man. Miami’s 40-man roster is currently overflowing after the team claimed right-hander Mike Baumann earlier this afternoon.
Non Roster Invitee
Wow!
Big Smoke
About time. He’ll probably hit like a AAAA player but it wouldn’t hurt to give him a chance
junkmale
Happy for Griffin to keep plowing ahead and finally getting a call-up. A legacy Marlin sounds so weird but there we have it.
formerlyz
Marlins also have Ryan Weathers
junkmale
Oh hell, you are right. That’s kind of cool.
oscar gamble
Cool!
TheOtherMikeD
Time for a bobblehead night.
Edp007
Another in the long list of Blue Jay kids of mlb players
Kruk it
He’ll be playing for a AAAA team
davengmusic
Mr. Marlin Jr!
Acoss1331
Another Conine joins the Marlins! Hopefully he becomes a good productive MLB player for the Marlins!
hiflew
Cool. I’ll get to see him play (on TV anyway) when the Rockies visit. Always liked seeing his dad play. One of my favorite non-Rockies of the 90s.
Rsox
Mr. Marlin Jr.
His dad was a year older when he got to Florida and cemented himself as a franchise icon. Maybe Griffin will have the same luck
lesterdnightfly
Jeff Conine was pretty darned good as a guy drafted in the 58TH ROUND by the Royals, eh?
Came to the Marlins in the expansion draft.
gorav114
Jeff was an all time favorite Oriole. Dude just always showed up. Hoping to see Griffin have success
Diggydugler
I know he is nothing but that trade was still awful. (Because Villar is awful)
FrontRowMarlins
Happiness
123redsox
” Conine will make his debut as soon as he gets into a game” … no kidding lol