Griffin Conine making the case to receive a Marlins call-up

[Kevin Barral]

Conine has looked like an improved prospect dating back to spring training. Over the past week in particular, he's been putting it all together at the plate.

The Miami Marlins currently find themselves with a 23-43 record. Holding the worst winning percentage in the National League, it's unlikely that they will be making the playoffs. On the bright side, a non-competitive season opens up opportunities for top performers from Triple-A Jacksonville to make their MLB debuts. Dating back to 2023, Troy Johnston has been a popular name in this conversation. Victor Mesa Jr. is the highest-ranked prospect on the Jumbo Shrimp roster and already on the Marlins 40-man roster. However, Griffin Conine is overshadowing everybody else with his recent hot streak.

Conine's overall numbers in 2024 have been extremely impressive. The powerful outfielder has a slash line of .273/.377/.556/.933 with a 136 wRC+ which ranks fourth-best among all qualified Marlins minor leaguers at full-season levels.

The most significant improvement for the 26-year-old has been lowering his strikeout percentage. Last season, Conine posted a 38.5 K% with AAA-Jacksonville and it was a similar story during his previous stops in the Marlins organization. In 2024, he is at a 27.7 K%, his lowest mark as a professional with the exception of his short-season debut in 2018.

Conine's success did not come out of nowhere. He was a non-roster invitee at Marlins big league spring training and was selected to participate in the inaugural Spring Breakout exhibition (he homered in that game as well). Still, he wasn't in serious consideration for an active roster spot. He's been with Jacksonville ever since, primarily playing right field with occasional reps in left field and as their designated hitter.

Conine leads the Marlins farm system with 14 home runs this season. Five of those have come since June 6 (a six-game span).

Entering last week, "I had my holes, and if pitchers executed to my holes, I wasn't gonna compete," said Conine in a lengthy interview on Just Baseball's The Call Up podcast. "That was something that was tough to deal with—just knowing, numbers are in a decent spot, but I wasn't making that next step."

Against the Charlotte Knights (Chicago White Sox affiliate), he felt a difference. "They were making pitches and I was putting good swings on pitches that were giving me trouble in the past."

"I've had this feel before," added Conine. "It's not like it's a completely new thing. I've thought it before and it's worked before and I've ditched it before. The goal here is gonna be to not ditch it."

The Marlins have a crowded outfield at the moment. Bryan De La Cruz and Nick Gordon platoon in left field, Dane Myers and Jesús Sánchez do the same in right, and Jazz Chisholm Jr. is Miami's everyday center fielder. Even the DH spot is filled (De La Cruz vs. RHP and Josh Bell vs. LHP). Perhaps there will be a clearer opening for Conine after the July 30 trade deadline.

Conine and the Jumbo Shrimp will be hosting the Indianapolis Guardians (Pittsburgh Pirates) the rest of this week.

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[THOMAS JOSEPH]

With his age and the overall situation in Miami, fans rightfully expect to see Conine this season - after the trade deadline, one hopes.