Adam Conley encouraging in return to Miami Marlins

The Miami Marlins couldn’t pick up a victory against the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday night. But a successful start from their recalled lefty is reason for optimism.

After starting the season as a fixture in the rotation, Adam Conley pitched his way to a AAA demotion. Tuesday marked his first start in a Miami Marlins uniform since May 8th, over two months ago.

If he is able to replicate the success he had against the Phillies on a regular basis, he’ll never have to sniff the minor leagues again.

The Marlins want Conley to earn a spot on the rotation as badly as he does.

The team is desperate for starters. If Adam Conley so much as proves he is an effective fifth option for the team in 2018, he’ll have a job. Miami is facing a major rebuild in regards to it’s starting rotation.

More from Marlin Maniac

• Miami Marlins news: Another target gone
• Why didn’t the Miami Marlins sign JDM?
• Miami Marlins rejected Boston‘s trade offer
• Miami Marlins are pursuing Michael Conforto
• Miami Marlins need to spend to win

Dan Straily and Jose Urena are the only players Miami should be interested in keeping as holdovers. Wei-Yin Chen will get an infinite number of chances to return to the rotation. Issues with his pitching arm appear as if they will continue into perpetuity.

The team would be prudent to keep him out of their longterm plans.

Adam Conley’s start on Tuesday was good enough to earn him another chance. Six innings pitched, two earned runs allowed on 92 pitches. He issued two walks while striking out three batters. The team came up short, but that’s the fault of the bullpen and a slow night offensively.

Conley needs to prove he’s ready

With trades on the horizon, it’s difficult to know exactly what the Miami Marlins pitching rotation will look like in 2018. Conley is 27-years old and with years of team control ahead. The Marlins have given him opportunities over the last three years with hopes that he’d put it all together.

He hasn’t. But the organization believes that he can. If they’re right, it’ll be a load off their mind going into 2018.

The team doesn’t want to send Conley down to the minor leagues again. They are desperate for help at the highest level, and Conley is a part of their longterm plans. Unless he’s really bad, he’ll get the rest of the season to reaffirm the Miami Marlins faith.

Part of it is the team wanting him to succeed. The other part is that there is nobody behind him.

Next: Miami Marlins viewership and attendance plummeting

In a way, the opportunity Conley is being extended is a prime example of the way players are treated dependent on where they are drafted. Conley has gotten more chances than most pitchers dream of, and that will continue for the rest of the year.