{{Short description|American baseball player (born 1990)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}} {{Infobox baseball biography | name = Adam Conley | image = MG 8094 Adam Conley.jpg | image_size = 270px | caption = Conley with the Miami Marlins | team = | number = | position = Pitcher | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1990|5|24}} | birth_place = Redmond, Washington, U.S. | bats = Left | throws = Left | debutleague = MLB | debutdate = June 10 | debutyear = 2015 | debutteam = Miami Marlins | finalleague = MLB | finaldate = September 22 | finalyear = 2021 | finalteam = Tampa Bay Rays | statyear = | statleague = MLB | stat1label = Win–loss record | stat1value = 25–30 | stat2label = Earned run average | stat2value = 4.71 | stat3label = Strikeouts | stat3value = 374 | teams = * Miami Marlins ({{mlby|2015}}–{{mlby|2019}}) * Tampa Bay Rays ({{mlby|2021}}) }} '''Adam Michael Conley''' (born May 24, 1990) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Miami Marlins from 2015 to 2019 and the Tampa Bay Rays in 2021.
==Career== ===Miami Marlins=== Conley was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 32nd round of the 2008 Major League Baseball draft out of Olympia High School in Olympia, Washington. He did not sign with the organization, and instead attended Washington State University, choosing to major in Criminal Justice. He did not graduate.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |year=2012 |title=Adam Conley - Baseball |url=https://wsucougars.com/sports/baseball/roster/adam-conley/2955 |website=Washington State University Athletics}}</ref> In 2011, as a junior, he went 6–7 with a 3.50 ERA in 16 starts.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Polevoi |first=Aaron |date=March 30, 2016 |title=Former Cougar Adam Conley makes Marlins roster |url=https://www.cougcenter.com/wsu-cougars-baseball/2016/3/30/11334458/wsu-cougars-baseball-washington-state-adam-conley-miami-marlins |website=Coug Center}}</ref> He was then drafted by the Florida Marlins in the second round of the 2011 Major League Baseball draft.<ref>{{cite web |author=Wochnick |first=Meg |date=June 8, 2011 |title=Marlins, friends call Conley |url=http://www.theolympian.com/2011/06/08/1679511/marlins-friends-call-conley.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140411172919/http://www.theolympian.com/2011/06/08/1679511/marlins-friends-call-conley.html |archive-date=April 11, 2014 |accessdate=April 11, 2014 |website=The Olympian |publisher=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=The Miami Herald |date=June 7, 2011 |title=Marlins' 2nd Round Pick Has Some Fight To Him |url=http://miamiherald.typepad.com/fish_bytes/2011/06/marlins-2nd-round-pick-has-some-fight-to-him.html |accessdate=April 11, 2014 |website=Miami Herald |publisher=Miamiherald.typepad.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=January 4, 2014 |title=WSU's Conley drafted by Florida Marlins |url=http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2011/jun/07/wsus-conley-drafted-by-florida-marlins/?partner=yahoo_feeds#axzz2ybA6Q5Py |accessdate=April 11, 2014 |website=Kitsap Sun |publisher= |archive-date=April 13, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413143133/http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2011/jun/07/wsus-conley-drafted-by-florida-marlins/?partner=yahoo_feeds#axzz2ybA6Q5Py |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Conley made his professional debut for the Gulf Coast Marlins that year. He started the 2012 season with the Greensboro Grasshoppers and was promoted to the Jupiter Hammerheads during the season.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://washingtonstate.scout.com/a.z?s=137&p=9&c=2&cid=1198576&nid=5116780&fhn=1 |title=Cougar Adam Conley gets promotion and debut win |publisher=Washingtonstate.scout.com |date= |accessdate=April 11, 2014}}</ref> He was then demoted to the AA Jacksonville Suns, for whom he played the 2013 season with.<ref>{{cite web|last=Wochnick |first=Meg |url=http://www.theolympian.com/2013/08/12/2668552/olympia-graduate-impresses.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140411172918/http://www.theolympian.com/2013/08/12/2668552/olympia-graduate-impresses.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 11, 2014 |title=Olympia graduate impresses |publisher=Theolympian.com |accessdate=April 11, 2014 }}</ref> He started 2014 in Triple-A for the New Orleans Zephyrs.{{Citation needed|date=January 2023}}
Conley made his major league debut on June 10, 2015.{{Citation needed|date=August 2021}}
On April 29, 2016, Conley was pulled while pitching a no-hitter against the Milwaukee Brewers on the road with two outs in the eighth inning. The bullpen would go on to blow the no-hitter and the shutout in the ninth inning.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/marlins-lose-no-hitter-in-9th-but-beat-brewers-c175356818 |title=No-hitter lost in 9th, Marlins hang on vs. Brewers |last1= |first1= |last2= |first2= |date= |website=mlb.com |publisher= |access-date=May 7, 2016 |archive-date=June 3, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160603054447/http://m.mlb.com/news/article/175356818/marlins-lose-no-hitter-in-9th-but-beat-brewers?game_pk=447208 |url-status=live }}</ref>
On July 3, 2016, Conley started the Fort Bragg Game, the first time an MLB game was played at an active military base. He pitched the bottom half of the first six innings, allowing no runs scored, and was the winning pitcher.{{Citation needed|date=January 2023}} On August 14, 2016, he was placed on the disabled list.{{Citation needed|date=January 2023}}
Conley was initially a promising starter in the Marlins’ rotation shortly after his major league debut during the 2015–16 season. Conley then ran into some struggles which proved to be career-damaging, such as several injuries, inconsistent and erratic play, and overall worsening statistics, amongst other issues. He then was moved to relief pitching, with some minor success in 2018. However, his play significantly worsened (6.53 ERA in 60 2/3 innings) over the 2019 season.<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 10, 2021 |title=Rays Sign Adam Conley to Minors Contract |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/05/rays-sign-adam-conley-to-minors-contract.html |website=MLB Trade Rumors}}</ref>
On August 30, 2020, Conley was designated for reassignment by the Marlins without making even a single appearance during the 2020 season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/08/post-deadline-dfas-phillies-white-sox-cubs.html|title = Deadline Day DFAs: Phillies, White Sox, Cubs, Marlins| date=31 August 2020 }}</ref> He was subsequently outrighted by the Marlins to Triple-A on September 6. Due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic, this effectively ended Conley's season without him ever having thrown a single pitch.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/09/marlins-outright-adam-conley.html|title=Marlins Outright Adam Conley|date=8 September 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://a-life-in-flight-365.blogspot.com/2020/09/day-3282.html|title = Know Better Love: Day 3,282|date = 6 September 2020}}</ref> On September 28, the Marlins released him from the organization, and he subsequently became a free agent.
===Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles=== On December 12, 2020, Conley signed with the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles of Nippon Professional Baseball for the 2021 season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/12/rakuten-golden-eagles-to-sign-adam-conley.html|title = Rakuten Golden Eagles to Sign Adam Conley| date=12 December 2020 }}</ref>
On May 3, 2021, Adam's wife, Kendall Mays Conley, made a statement on behalf of the family of his release from the Rakuten Golden Eagles due to Japan's border closures because of rising cases of COVID-19. At the time, only foreign professional athletes were allowed entrance into the country, but not their immediate family members. Conley was instructed by the organization to report to Japan for Spring Training alone, with his wife and children to follow once border restrictions lifted. Conley refused to relocate to Japan or report for Spring Training without his family for any period of time. His refusal to relocate without his family, coupled with Conley's and the organization's failure to reach a compromise, subsequently led to the Golden Eagles' cancellation of the contract, and the full release of Conley from their organization.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://a-life-in-flight-365.blogspot.com/2021/05/day-3520.html|title = Know Better Love: Day 3,520|date = 3 May 2021}}</ref>
===Tampa Bay Rays=== On May 10, 2021, Conley signed a minor league contract with the Tampa Bay Rays, and was assigned to the Triple-A Durham Bulls.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/05/rays-sign-adam-conley-to-minors-contract.html|title=Rays Sign Adam Conley to Minors Contract|date=10 May 2021 }}</ref> Conley logged a 4.35 ERA in 37 appearances for Durham. On August 14, 2021, the Rays selected Conley's contract.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/08/rays-designate-evan-phillips-for-assignment-select-adam-conley.html|title = Rays Designate Evan Phillips for Assignment, Select Adam Conley| date=14 August 2021 }}</ref> Conley would make 17 appearances out of the bullpen for Tampa Bay, posting a 2.29 ERA with 16 strikeouts in 19.2 innings pitched. On November 7, 2021, Conley was designated for assignment by the Rays after René Pinto was added to the 40-man roster.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/rays-adam-conley-designated-for-assignment/ | title=Rays' Adam Conley: Designated for assignment | date=7 November 2021 }}</ref> On November 10, Conley was released from the Rays organization.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/rays-adam-conley-designated-for-assignment/ | title=Rays' Adam Conley: Designated for assignment | date=7 November 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/adam-conley-hits-open-market/ | title=Adam Conley: Hits open market | date=12 November 2021 }}</ref>
On November 21, 2021, Conley's impending retirement was alluded to by his spouse.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://a-life-in-flight-365.blogspot.com/2021/11/day-3926.html | title=Know Better Love: Day 3,926 | date=21 November 2021 }}</ref> On March 11, 2022, Conley officially announced his retirement from professional baseball.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/adam-conley-announces-retirement/ | title=Adam Conley: Announces retirement | date=11 March 2022 }}</ref>
He now works as a private "baseball instructor".<ref>{{cite web | url=http://a-life-in-flight-365.blogspot.com/2022/07/day-4145.html | title=Know Better Love: Day 4,145 | date=12 July 2022 }}</ref>
==Personal life== Conley was born to his mother, Katy, and father, Larry, on May 24, 1990. He has an older brother, Jeremy. He attended Washington State University, majoring in Criminal Justice,<ref name=":0" /> but did not graduate. Conley met and proposed to college girlfriend Kendall Mays, a blogger,<ref>{{Cite web |title=A Life in Flight |url=https://a-life-in-flight.blogspot.com |access-date=2025-01-07 |website=a-life-in-flight.blogspot.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Know Better Love |url=https://a-life-in-flight-365.blogspot.com/ |access-date=2025-01-07 |website=a-life-in-flight-365.blogspot.com}}</ref> after a very brief courtship. Mays said she had only known him a short time before they became engaged on April 4, 2011.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://a-life-in-flight-365.blogspot.com/2012/01/day-one-hundred-and-thirty-eight.html|title = Know Better Love: Day One Hundred and Thirty-Eight|date = 26 January 2012}}</ref> They were married on September 10, 2011, in Olympia, Washington.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://a-life-in-flight-365.blogspot.com/p/about-mrs-conley.html|title=About the Conleys|work=Know Better Love|accessdate=December 21, 2017}}</ref> The couple have three daughters.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://a-life-in-flight-365.blogspot.com/2015/05/amelias-birth-day.html|title = Know Better Love: Amelia's Birth-Day|date = 22 May 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://a-life-in-flight-365.blogspot.com/2017/03/day-two-thousand-and-twenty-five.html|title=Day Two Thousand and Twenty-Five|work=Know Better Love|date=30 March 2017|accessdate=December 21, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://a-life-in-flight-365.blogspot.com/2019/02/day-2410_5.html|title = Know Better Love: Day 2,410|date = 5 February 2019}}</ref> They also are parents to an adopted<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://a-life-in-flight-365.blogspot.com/2017/11/day-2240.html|title = Know Better Love: Day 2,240|date = November 2017}}</ref> nephew, who was born June 22, 2013.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://a-life-in-flight-365.blogspot.com/2013/06/day-six-hundred-and-fifty.html|title = Know Better Love: Day Six Hundred and Fifty|date = 23 June 2013}}</ref> They homeschool their children,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://a-life-in-flight-365.blogspot.com/search?q=homeschool|title=Know Better Love}}</ref> are advocates of home birth and midwifery and are against vaccination.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://a-life-in-flight-365.blogspot.com/search?q=vaccine | title=Know Better Love }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://a-life-in-flight-365.blogspot.com/search/label/Homebirth|title=Know Better Love}}</ref>
Adam is an outspoken follower of the Baptist Christian faith,<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://christopherapage.com/uncategorized/being-a-blessing-to-others-adam-conley-florida-marlins/|title = Being a Blessing to Others - Adam Conley - Florida Marlins|date = 25 September 2015|access-date = October 16, 2020|archive-date = October 19, 2020|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201019223553/http://christopherapage.com/uncategorized/being-a-blessing-to-others-adam-conley-florida-marlins/|url-status = dead}}</ref> and he and his wife are supporters of the United States Republican Party.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://a-life-in-flight-365.blogspot.com/2014/11/day-one-thousand-one-hundred-and-fifty.html|title = Know Better Love: Day One Thousand One Hundred and Fifty|date = 5 November 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://a-life-in-flight-365.blogspot.com/2016/10/day-eighteen-hundred-and-seventy-one.html|title=Know Better Love: Day Eighteen Hundred and Seventy-One|date=27 October 2016}}</ref> He enjoys hunting for sport,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://a-life-in-flight-365.blogspot.com/2020/05/day-3168.html|title = Know Better Love: Day. 3,168|date = 15 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://a-life-in-flight-365.blogspot.com/2020/12/day-3378.html|title = Know Better Love: Day 3,378|date = 12 December 2020}}</ref> shooting,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://a-life-in-flight-365.blogspot.com/2020/12/day-3378.html|title = Know Better Love: Day 3,378|date = 12 December 2020}}</ref> and fishing.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://a-life-in-flight-365.blogspot.com/2020/09/day-3284.html|title = Know Better Love: Day 3,284|date = 8 September 2020}}</ref> He is also an amateur pastor,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://a-life-in-flight-365.blogspot.com/search?q=adam+sermon|title = Know Better Love}}</ref> and participates in bible study groups.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://a-life-in-flight-365.blogspot.com/2012/03/day-two-hundred.html|title=Know Better Love: Day Two Hundred|date=28 March 2012}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{baseballstats |mlb=543045 |espn=32669 |br=c/conlead01 |fangraphs=14457 |brm=conley001ada |retro=C/Pconla001}} *[http://www.wsucougars.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=30400&ATCLID=207959467 Washington State Cougars bio]
{{Portal bar|Biography|Baseball|United States}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Conley, Adam}} Category:1990 births Category:Living people Category:Sportspeople from Redmond, Washington Category:Baseball players from Washington (state) Category:Major League Baseball pitchers Category:Miami Marlins players Category:Tampa Bay Rays players Category:Washington State Cougars baseball players Category:Gulf Coast Marlins players Category:Greensboro Grasshoppers players Category:Jupiter Hammerheads players Category:Jacksonville Suns players Category:New Orleans Zephyrs players Category:New Orleans Baby Cakes players Category:Durham Bulls players