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Blue Jays: Looking at former prospects traded at the deadline under Ross Atkins

By Tyson Shushkewich

TORONTO, ON - JULY 13: Ross Atkins general manager of the Toronto Blue Jays speaks during a press conference after naming John Schneider the interim manager of the team, at Rogers Centre on July 13, 2022 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - JULY 13: Ross Atkins general manager of the Toronto Blue Jays speaks during a press conference after naming John Schneider the interim manager of the team, at Rogers Centre on July 13, 2022 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images) /
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LAKELAND, FL – FEBRUARY 28: Griffin Conine #93 of the Toronto Blue Jays looks on while batting during the Spring Training game against the Detroit Tigers at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium on February 28, 2020 in Lakeland, Florida. The Blue Jays defeated the Tigers 5-4. (Photo by Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images) /

Griffin Conine – OF

Traded to the Miami Marlins in exchange for INF Jonathan Villar – August/31/2020

One of the first high-profile Ross Atkins draft picks to be traded was Griffin Conine, a second-round selection of the 2018 MLB Draft out of Duke University. Son of former big leaguer Jeff Conine, Griffin’s time in the Jays system was met with success and controversy off the field, as the corner outfielder would miss 50 games of the 2019 season after testing positive for the banned stimulant Ritalnic Acid.

Prior to the trade, Conine’s 2019 campaign ended with him amassing a .946 OPS with the Class A Lansing Lugnuts with 22 home runs and 64 RBI.

Conine would be traded to the Miami Marlins at the 2020 trade deadline in exchange for infielder Jonathan Villar, which ended up being a bit of a mess for the Jays when the veteran struggled to hit with his new organization. The Florida product on the other hand impressed early in the Marlins farm system, starting the year in High-A before earning a promotion to AA to finish out the year but struggling to find a groove and striking out often.

The former Jays prospect is posting solid numbers in AA this year, owning a .832 OPS with 13 home runs and 48 RBI through 267 at-bats. He has split his time equally in left and right field this season and has nine assists on the year while sporting a perfect 1.000% fielding percentage.

Currently ranked as the #24 prospect in the Marlins organization, Conine still struggles with the swing and miss in his game (114 K’s through 74 games this year) which is why he is most likely still in AA as of right now. He has the power and ability to hit but the strikeouts need to be reeled in if he is to keep on track with his 2023 MLB ETA.

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