Pensacola's McCants, Wahoos' Conine Invited To Miami Marlins Fall Development Camp

Pensacola’s Jordan McCants is taking another forward step in his professional baseball career.

McCants, a Catholic High graduate, is among 27 of the Miami Marlins’ top prospects participating in a three-week Fall Development Camp at the team’s big league stadium, LoanDepot Park in Miami.

The camp will continue through Oct. 22 with workouts, instruction, and intrasquad games featuring catchers, infielders and outfielders.

The Blue Wahoos’ Griffin Conine, who blasted 36 home runs with two teams and finished second across all levels of Minor League Baseball, is part of the invited prospects as well, along with Victor Victor Mesa, who began the 2021 season in Pensacola and appeared in 21 games for the Blue Wahoos, before reassignment to High-A Beloit Snappers, is also part of the group.

McCants, 19, was chosen in the third round – the 88th player overall – in the 2021 Major League Baseball Draft, following his senior season at Catholic.

He signed 10 days later on July 22, after traveling to Miami, then spent the rest of his summer at the Marlins Rookie League team, the Florida Complex League Marlins (FCL Marlins) at their spring training facility in Jupiter. Before opting for pro baseball, he had signed a scholarship offer to attend Mississippi State.

The Marlins’ first round draft pick, infielder Kahill Watson, a teammate with McCants on the FCL Marlins, is also among the 10 infielders participating Miami’s Fall Development Camp.

McCants appeared in 23 games at shortstop (14), second base (5) and designated hitter (3), collecting 17 hits in 76 at-bats (.224 average) with four RBI, two doubles, six walks, 22 strikeouts and one stolen base.

In high school, McCants rose from a multisport athlete into the area's premier baseball player. He was the 2021 Pensacola News Journal player of the year, after batting .450 and helping lead Catholic to a district and regional title as a senior.