Toronto Blue Jays: New Generation Vs. Their MLB Fathers

SURPRISE, AZ - NOVEMBER 03: AFL West All-Star, Vladimir Guerrero Jr #27 of the Toronto Blue Jays bats during the Arizona Fall League All Star Game at Surprise Stadium on November 3, 2018 in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
SURPRISE, AZ - NOVEMBER 03: AFL West All-Star, Vladimir Guerrero Jr #27 of the Toronto Blue Jays bats during the Arizona Fall League All Star Game at Surprise Stadium on November 3, 2018 in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
6 of 7
Next
JUPITER, FL – MARCH 11: Jeff Conine #18 of the Florida Marlins bats against the Minnesota Twins during their game on March 11, 2004 at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Florida. The Marlins won 5-4. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
JUPITER, FL – MARCH 11: Jeff Conine #18 of the Florida Marlins bats against the Minnesota Twins during their game on March 11, 2004 at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Florida. The Marlins won 5-4. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

Griffin Conine vs Jeff Conine

Jeff Conine played in the majors for 17 seasons with six teams as a left fielder and first baseman. The two time World Series winner (1997 + 2003) has a career 19.5WAR and was an inaugural member of the Florida Marlins. His son Griffin Conine was just cutting his teeth in professional baseball last season playing low A ball in Vancouver, and he came in at #18 in our Jays Journal top Blue Jays prospects for 2019. His father Jeff played parts of five season’s in the minors and we will compare his first Single-A season in 1988 against his son Griffin’s last season in Vancouver.

Minor League Comparison

Griffin Conine 2018 A-(20):  206AB, 49H, 7HR, 33RBI, .238BA .309OBP, 5SB

Jeff Conine 1988 A (22):       415AB, 113H, 10HR, 59RBI, .272BA .342OBP, 26SB

It’s clear that Jeff Conine received around double the number of at-bats in his 1988 season than his son did last year.  However, this does not take away from the fact that their numbers are eerily similar. Jeff had a higher OBP in his day with more steals, but Griffin kept pace in almost every other category. It should be noted though that Griffin Conine’s numbers are from Low-A, while his fathers were Single-A.

Still, if Griffin is able to do the same damage this season in A/AA, the Blue Jays would be thrilled to have a player that could continue where his all-star father left off.