Miami Marlins Mount Rushmore

The Miami Marlins have a short, but interesting, history. During that time, quite a few stellar players have gone through the clubhouse. Which of those players make up their Mount Rushmore?

The Miami Marlins have an interesting history. They have yet to win their division, finishing second in the National League East four times since coming into the league in 1993. And yet, despite never winning their division, the Marlins have won two World Series, taking home the title as a Wild Card in 1997 and 2003.

And yet, even the euphoria of those two titles was short lived. The 1997 team was broken apart almost the moment that the champagne dried, leading to the week that Mike Piazza called the Marlins “home.” At least we got a few baseball cards of those 19 plate appearances. The 2003 championship team attempted to recapture that glory, and had a solid showing in 2005 with their fifth best season in franchise history, but they could not duplicate their winning ways.

Now, the Marlins are a team in transition. The generally detested Jeffrey Loria is gone, replaced by an ownership group headed by the legendary Derek Jeter. And yet, there is more of the same. Payroll is likely to be slashed, and their star player, Giancarlo Stanton, may well be on the move. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

Through it all, there have been quite a few star players with the Marlins. Even though their time with the franchise may be short, they still made an impact. Which of those players are a part of the Miami Marlins Mount Rushmore?

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Jeff Conine (1993-1997, 2003-2005)

Jeff Conine can thank expansion for finally getting his chance to stick in the majors. Once there, he did not leave.

Taken with the 22nd overall pick in the 1992 MLB Expansion Draft, Conine made an immediate impact with the Marlins. Although he was already 27 years old, and had only 37 major league games before 1993, he literally did not leave the lineup. Playing in every game that season, he posted a solid .292/.351/.403 batting line, hitting 12 homers as he finished third in the Rookie of the Year vote.

From that point, Conine established himself as a solid presence in the Marlins lineup. Although he was never seriously considered for the MVP award, he became the heart of the team. A two time All Star, Conine produced a .290/.358/.455 batting line, hitting 120 homers and 180 doubles. His time with the Marlins also coincided with their two World Series victories, as he left after their first title, and was reacquired for the stretch run for the second.

Even though Conine is a Marlins legend, his time with the team has come to a rather ignoble end. As part of Derek Jeter’s shakeup of the front office, Conine was one of four advisors that were asked to take a substantial pay cut. When they refused, they were let go, their standing with the franchise irrelevant to their future.

Even though his time with the franchise may be at an end, Jeff Conine was a key figure in Marlins history. At some point, his number may be the next one to be retired.

Jose Fernandez (2013-2016)

He only had two full seasons in the majors, but Jose Fernandez left an indelible impact upon the Miami Marlins.

His greatness was evident from the beginning. Not even two years after being selected with the 14th overall pick in the 2011 MLB Amateur Draft, Fernandez was in the majors. He made the All Star team that year, and was the landslide winner in the NL Rookie of the Year vote. Fernandez even finished third in the Cy Young voting that year, showing that he had quite the bright future.

After missing most of the next two years due to Tommy John surgery, Fernandez was back at the top of his game in 2016. He made the All Star Game once more, and was one of the front runners for the Cy Young award. Then, tragedy struck, as he and two of his friends passed away in a boating accident, where Fernandez was piloting the boat while drunk. He was only 26 years old at the time.

Overall, Fernandez posted a 38-17 record, along with a 2.58 ERA and a 1.054 WHiP. In his 471.1 innings, he struck out 589 batters, issuing only 55 walks. His brilliance, flashing across the baseball landscape like a comet, was such that his number 16 was the first number to be retired by the Marlins.

Jose Fernandez was already a star with the Miami Marlins, and could have been one of the great pitchers of his time. Unfortunately, one bad decision ended his life far too soon.

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Dontrelle Willis (2003-2007)

One of the brightest young stars in baseball, Dontrelle Willis appeared to be an emerging ace.

He burst on the scene with the Marlins, joining the team in the middle of April. His unique delivery and upbeat attitude made him an instant fan favorite, as he became a surprising factor in Florida’s push for the postseason. He made the All Star Game that year, and won the Rookie of the Year award. After a down year in 2004, Willis led the National League with 22 wins, made his second All Star Game, and finished second in the Cy Young vote.

Just when he appeared to have a bright future, something happened. Willis was not as effective the following season, and began to struggle with his command. After a mediocre 2007 campaign, he was included in the infamous Miguel Cabrera trade, sent to the Tigers. However, he never rediscovered that early magic, winning only four games in the next four years as he bounced around the league.

Overall, during his time with the Marlins, Willis was a solid pitcher. While he had his peaks and valleys, he posted a solid 68-54 record with a 3.78 ERA and a 1.359 WHiP. In his 1022.2 innings, he struck out 757 batters with 344 walks. He may not have been the dominant force from his rookie year, but he was a decent piece of the Marlins rotation.

Dontrelle Willis streaked across the sky like a comet. Unfortunately, he burned out just as quickly.