Griffin Conine keeps giving the Marlins exactly what they need, and Saturday was another example of it.
While Sandy Alcantara drew the bulk of the attention in Miami’s 7-0 win over the Angels on Saturday afternoon - a game in which he set the franchise record for career innings - Conine quietly delivered a strong night at the plate. He went 2-for-4 with an RBI, adding another useful performance to a stretch that has changed the conversation around him.
That conversation looked different not long ago. Entering the 2026 season, there were questions about whether Conine could truly produce for the Marlins.
Injuries had slowed him down and kept him from reaching the level many expected. This summer, though, he has answered plenty of that noise.
Over his last 50 games, Conine has been locked in. His bat is getting through the zone quicker, his plate discipline has sharpened, and he has turned into a real problem for pitchers.
During that span, he has hit 10 homers and become one of the more difficult outs in the lineup. Miami, meanwhile, put together a complete effort Saturday, with offense, pitching, and defense all clicking.
Conine’s connection to the organization runs deeper than most. He was born to wear a Marlins uniform, with his father, Jeff Conine, standing as a franchise legend. That bond makes his rise feel especially fitting.
He also made it clear how he views Alcantara after the game. The ace’s work, both on the mound and away from it, has earned the respect of his teammates, and Conine had no hesitation when asked about Alcantara’s place in franchise history.
"Yeah, without a doubt," Conine said to Marlins Sports Network after the game. "The body of work speaks for itself. If you're thinking about Mount Rushmore for the Marlins franchise history, he's got to be on there, and if you're thinking of one arm, I think he's the guy."
Alcantara’s résumé clearly puts him in the conversation when it comes to the franchise’s top pitchers. But when the lens widens to the full scope of Marlins history since 1993, the biggest names already have a firm grip on the conversation - Jeff Conine, Giancarlo Stanton, Gary Sheffield, Miguel Cabrera, and Hanley Ramirez among them.
For Alcantara, that doesn’t erase what he has accomplished. It just places him in a different lane: one of the best arms the franchise has ever had, alongside Dontrelle Willis, Jose Fernandez, and Josh Johnson.
As for Griffin Conine, the bigger question is whether this run becomes something lasting. If he finishes the season strong and keeps producing for Miami over the next few years, he could start building a case of his own among the best Marlins of the 2020s.
For now, though, the story is simpler than that. He is helping the team win, he is doing it at the right time, and he is making it a little easier to picture the Conine name staying tied to the franchise for a long time.
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