Luis García (pitcher)

Luis García
Philadelphia Phillies – No. 57
Pitcher
Born: (1987-01-30) January 30, 1987
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Bats: Right Throws: Right
MLB debut
July 10, 2013, for the Philadelphia Phillies
MLB statistics
(through 2016 season)
Win–loss record 7–8
Earned run average 4.24
Strikeouts 112
WHIP 1.69
Teams

Luis Amado García (born January 30, 1987) is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball (MLB). He was called up to the majors for the first time on July 9, 2013.[1] García has had two stints playing professional baseball, initially from 2006 to 2010, and then since 2013. The former stint was with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Washington Nationals organizations, while the latter was with the Phillies organization. The stints were separated by García being out of baseball working as a barber.

Professional career

Early professional career (2006–2010)

García was originally signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers organization as an amateur free agent in 2004, and first played in the Dominican Summer League for them in 2006. He remained in the Dodgers organization until 2009; on August 31, he was traded to the Washington Nationals along with a player to be named later (who turned out to be Victor Garate) for infielder Ronnie Belliard. In total in 2009, he had a six win, three loss record with a 2.76 earned run average (ERA) and five saves with the Great Lakes Loons and the Potomac Nationals.[2] He spent the 2010 season in the Nationals organization before being granted free agency.

Discovery by the Phillies

After spending 2011 out of baseball and 2012 pitching only nine games for the Newark Bears of the Can-Am League during which he totaled an 11.57 ERA, he assumed his professional career was over, and began trying to learn the trade of barbering at a salon in New Jersey.[3] At night, he worked at a moving company. His only baseball activity was teaching children and a few pickup games, yet Phillies international scouting director Sal Agostinelli heard about him and sent someone to watch him throw. After discovering that he consistently threw a fastball that was 94 miles per hour (mph) as well as an "impressive" slider, he had García come to Phillies spring training. The Phillies signed García to a minor league contract and assigned him to the Clearwater Threshers, their Advanced-A affiliate, on March 25, 2013. Agostinelli was quoted as saying, "It's literally one of those things as a scout that you dream about."[3]

Phillies career

Despite his accolade from the scouting staff, García was not expected to reach the majors.[4] Beginning the year in Clearwater before earning promotions to the Double-A Reading Fightin Phils and the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs, García combined to post a 1.67 ERA and 9.3 strikeouts per nine innings pitched (K/9).[5] He was called up to the Major Leagues on July 9, 2013 to replace Phillippe Aumont.[6]

He was recalled from Lehigh Valley on May 8, 2014[7] and had several stints with the Phillies that season, ultimately appearing in 13 games. In 2015, García made the Phillies' Opening Day roster after a strong spring training. His performance during the first half of the season was characterized as "inconsistent" by interim manager Pete Mackanin, who said Garcia had been hanging too many sliders.[8]

References

  1. ↑ "Philadelphia Phillies send Phillippe Aumont down to Lehigh Valley IronPigs, call up Luis Garcia". The Express-Times. Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania. Associated Press. July 9, 2013. Retrieved August 31, 2013.
  2. ↑ "Luis Garcia Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved August 31, 2013.
  3. 1 2 Housenick, Mandy (July 9, 2013). "Phillies promote Luis Garcia after he was out of pro baseball last two years". The Morning Call. Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania. Retrieved August 31, 2013.
  4. ↑ Clark, Bonnie, ed. (2013). 2013 Philadelphia Phillies Media Guide. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: The Phillies.
  5. ↑ "Luis Garcia Baseball Statistics (2007-2013)". The Baseball Cube. Retrieved August 31, 2013.
  6. ↑ Riccaboni, Ian (July 9, 2013). "Phillies recall Garcia, option Aumont to AAA". Phillies Nation. Retrieved August 31, 2013.
  7. ↑ Zolecki, Todd (May 8, 2014). "Phillies outright Camp and recall Garcia". mlb.com. Retrieved May 8, 2014.
  8. ↑ Parent, Rob (July 17, 2015). "Morgan deserves better, but he'll take the hit as Phillies open 2nd half with win". Delaware County Daily Times. Retrieved July 28, 2015.
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