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Luis García (pitcher, born 1987)

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Not to be confused with Luis García (pitcher, born 1996).

Luis García
García with the Padres in 2022
Los Angeles Dodgers – No. 57
Pitcher
Born: (1987-01-30) January 30, 1987 (age 38)
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
July 10, 2013, for the Philadelphia Phillies
MLB statistics
(through April 23, 2025)
Win–loss record27–28
Earned run average4.16
Strikeouts512
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams

Luis Amado García (born January 30, 1987) is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Philadelphia Phillies, Los Angeles Angels, Texas Rangers, St. Louis Cardinals, San Diego Padres, and Boston Red Sox.

García was originally signed by the Dodgers organization as an amateur free agent in 2004, at the age of 16. His initial MLB call-up occurred on July 9, 2013.[1] García made his big league debut the next day, versus the Washington Nationals at Citizens Bank Park. That day, he pitched one scoreless inning, in relief of Phillies ace, Cliff Lee.

García has had two stints playing professional baseball, initially from 2006 to 2010, and from 2013 to present. During the period in between stints, García was mostly out of baseball, working in the barbering and moving businesses, save for a brief, rocky 2012 comeback attempt in independent ball.[2]

Professional career

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Early professional career (2006–10)

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García was originally signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers organization as an amateur free agent on January 22, 2004,[3] and first played in the Dominican Summer League for them in 2006.[4] He remained in the Dodgers organization until 2009;[4] on August 31, García was traded to the Washington Nationals along with a player to be named later (Victor Garate), for infielder Ronnie Belliard.[5] In total in 2009, García had six wins, three losses, with a 2.76 earned run average (ERA), and five saves, with the Great Lakes Loons and Potomac Nationals.[4] He spent the 2010 season in the Nationals organization, playing for Potomac and the Hagerstown Suns[4] before electing free agency on November 6, 2010.[3]

Philadelphia Phillies

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García with the Phillies in 2018

After spending 2011 out of baseball and in 2012 pitching only nine games for the Newark Bears of the Can-Am League during which he totaled an 11.57 ERA,[4] García assumed his professional career was over, and began trying to learn the trade of barbering at a salon in New Jersey. At night, he worked at a moving company.[6]

At that time, García's only baseball activity was teaching children and a few pickup games, yet Philadelphia Phillies international scouting director Sal Agostinelli heard about García and sent someone to watch him throw. After discovering that García consistently threw a fastball that was 94 miles per hour (mph) as well as an "impressive" slider, Agostinelli had García come to Phillies spring training. The Phillies signed him 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."[6]

Despite his accolades from the scouting staff, García was not expected to reach the majors.[7] 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).[8] He was called up to the Major Leagues on July 9, 2013.[9] He made his debut the following day, working a scoreless eighth inning versus the Nationals and recording his first MLB strikeout against Ryan Zimmerman.[10] He pitched in 24 games that season, allowing 13 earned runs in 31+1⁄3 innings for a 3.73 ERA[5] and picked up his first major league win in his final appearance of the season, against the Atlanta Braves on September 28.[11]

García was optioned to Lehigh Valley to begin the 2014 season,[12] where he produced a 0.96 ERA (five earned runs in 46+2⁄3 innings) in 39 games.[4] He was recalled to the majors on May 8[13] and appeared in 13 games for the Phillies, allowing 10 runs in 14 innings.[5] In 2015, García made the Phillies' Opening Day roster after a strong spring training.[14] His performance during the first half of the season was characterized as "inconsistent" by then-interim manager Pete Mackanin, who said García had been hanging too many sliders.[15] Nevertheless, he remained with the Phillies all season, appearing in 72 games with a 3.51 ERA in 66+2⁄3 innings and a 4–6 record.[5] He also picked up the first two saves of his major league career, with the first occurring on May 15 against the Arizona Diamondbacks.[16]

García returned to the minors to start the 2016 season[17] and was up and down between the Phillies and Lehigh Valley all season.[3] He pitched in 48 games in AAA with a 6–3 record and 2.14 ERA[4] while struggling in the majors, with a 6.46 ERA in 17 games.[5] In 2017, he again began in the minors[18] Though he wound up spending most of the season with the Phillies, appearing in 66 games with a 2–5 record and 2.65 ERA.[5]

In 2018, García was 3–1, with one save, in 59 games, with a 6.07 ERA, a 1.46 WHIP, and 51 strikeouts in 46 innings.[5]

Los Angeles Angels

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On December 6, 2018, the Phillies traded García to the Los Angeles Angels for relief pitcher José Álvarez.[19][20] García made 64 appearances for the Angels in 2019, posting a 2–1 record and 4.35 ERA.[5] He became a free agent following the 2019 season.[21]

Texas Rangers

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On January 9, 2020, García signed a minor league deal with the Texas Rangers that included an invite to Spring Training.[22] With the minor league season cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, García began the season at the Rangers alternate training site.[23] He was added back to the major league roster on August 18[24] On September 15, García was designated for assignment after struggling to a 7.56 ERA in 11 games.[25] He was granted free agency on September 17.[26]

New York Yankees

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On December 12, 2020, García signed a minor league contract with the New York Yankees organization.[27] He was assigned to the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders to begin the 2021 season, where he made 18 appearances, logging a 1–2 record and 3.63 ERA.[4] He was granted his released by the Yankees on July 6.[3]

St. Louis Cardinals

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On July 9, 2021, García signed a major league contract with the St. Louis Cardinals.[28] He debuted for the Cardinals against the Chicago Cubs on the same day and hit the first batter he faced, Willson Contreras, in the head with a fastball.[29] He wound up pitching in 34 games for the Cardinals in 2021, with a 3.24 ERA in 33+1⁄3 innings.[5] He also pitched in the post-season for the first time in his career, working 1+2⁄3 scoreless innings in the Wild Card Game against the Dodgers.[5]

San Diego Padres

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On December 1, 2021, García signed a two-year contract with the San Diego Padres.[30] He pitched in 37 games during his contract, with a 6–9 record and 3.73 ERA.[5] In the 2022 postseason, he pitched 4+2⁄3 innings across four games[5] with the only run he gave up being a home run by Kyle Schwarber of the Phillies in the sixth inning of Game 4 of the National League Championship Series.[31]

Los Angeles Angels (second stint)

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On December 13, 2023, García signed a one-year, $4.25 million contract to return to the Los Angeles Angels.[32] He made 45 appearances out of the bullpen for the Angels in 2024, compiling a 3.71 ERA with 40 strikeouts and 4 saves across 43+2⁄3 innings pitched.[33]

Boston Red Sox

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On July 30, 2024, García was traded to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for minor league players Niko Kavadas, Matthew Lugo, Yeferson Vargas and Ryan Zeferjahn.[34][35] In 15 appearances for Boston, García struggled to an 8.22 ERA with 13 strikeouts across 15+1⁄3 innings pitched.[5]

Los Angeles Dodgers

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On February 13, 2025, García signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers.[36] On March 17, the Dodgers selected his contract after he made the team's opening day roster.[37]

References

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  1. ^ "Philadelphia Phillies send Phillippe Aumont down to Lehigh Valley IronPigs, call up Luis Garcia". lehighvalleylive.com. Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania: PennLive LLC. Associated Press. July 9, 2013. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
  2. ^ "11 years ago, he was a barber. Now? He's pitching in the NLCS". MLB.com. MLB. October 21, 2022. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d "Luis García Stats, Fantasy & News". MLB.com.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h "Luis Garcia Minor, Independent and Winter Leagues Stats". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. 2019. Retrieved May 23, 2019.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Luis Garcia Stats". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. 2019. Retrieved May 23, 2019.
  6. ^ a b Housenick, Mandy (July 9, 2013). "Phillies' Luis Garcia: From the salon to the major leagues in four months". The Morning Call. Allentown, Pennsylvania: Tribune Publishing. Retrieved May 23, 2019.
  7. ^ Clark, Bonnie, ed. (2013). 2013 Philadelphia Phillies Media Guide. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: The Phillies.
  8. ^ "Luis Garcia Baseball Statistics (2007-2013)". The Baseball Cube. Retrieved August 31, 2013.
  9. ^ Riccaboni, Ian (July 9, 2013). "Phillies recall Garcia, option Aumont to AAA". Phillies Nation. Retrieved August 31, 2013.
  10. ^ "Washington Nationals vs Philadelphia Phillies Box Score: July 10, 2013". Baseball Reference. Retrieved April 12, 2025.
  11. ^ "Luis Garcia 2013 Pitching Gamelogs". Baseball Reference. Retrieved April 12, 2025.
  12. ^ Roscher, Liz (March 9, 2014). "Phillies' First Cuts Include Stutes, Biddle". SB Nation. Retrieved April 12, 2025.
  13. ^ Zolecki, Todd (May 8, 2014). "Phillies outright Camp and recall Garcia". MLB.com. Major League Baseball. Retrieved May 8, 2014.
  14. ^ Berkery, Patrick (April 5, 2015). "Phillies finalize opening day roster". phillyburbs.com. Retrieved April 12, 2025.
  15. ^ Parent, Rob (July 17, 2015). "Morgan deserves better, but he'll take the hit as Phillies open 2nd half with win". delcotimes.com. Delaware County Daily Times. Retrieved July 28, 2015.
  16. ^ "Luis Garcia 2015 Pitching Gamelogs". Baseball Reference. Retrieved April 12, 2025.
  17. ^ Gross, Stephen (March 28, 2016). "PHILLIES: Velasquez earns final spot in rotation". Burlington County Times. Retrieved April 12, 2025.
  18. ^ Boyé, Paul (March 30, 2017). "Luis Garcia Optioned, Bullpen Approaches Final Evolution". SB Nation. Retrieved April 12, 2025.
  19. ^ "Angels' Luis Garcia: Shipped to Los Angeles". www.cbssports.com. CBS Sports. Rotowire Staff. December 6, 2018. Retrieved May 23, 2019.
  20. ^ Thornburg, Chad (December 6, 2018). "Phillies, Angels swap relievers in 1-for-1 deal (Phils acquire LHP Alvarez; Halos receive RHP Garcia)". MLB.com. Major League Baseball. Retrieved May 23, 2019.
  21. ^ Rhett Bolinger (October 28, 2019). "Bour 1 of 5 players cut from Angels' roster". MLB.com. Retrieved October 28, 2019.
  22. ^ Associated Press (January 9, 2020). "Rangers reach minor league deals with Luis Garcia, James Jones". ESPN. Retrieved April 12, 2025.
  23. ^ Newberg, Jamey (September 24, 2020). "'You find a way': A day behind the scenes at Rangers' alternate training site". The Athletic. Retrieved April 12, 2025.
  24. ^ "Rangers select RHP Luis García from alternate training site, HHP Juan Nicasio placed on restricted list". mlb.com. August 18, 2020. Retrieved April 12, 2025.
  25. ^ "Rangers Designate Luis Garcia". September 15, 2020.
  26. ^ "Rangers' Luis Garcia Becomes Free Agent". September 17, 2020.
  27. ^ "Yankees Sign Derek Dietrich, Nick Goody". February 17, 2021.
  28. ^ "Cardinals Sign Luis Garcia". July 9, 2021.
  29. ^ "Cardinals vs. Cubs - Box Score - July 9, 2021 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
  30. ^ "Padres Sign RHP Luis García to Two-Year Contract". December 1, 2021. Retrieved December 1, 2021.
  31. ^ "2022 National League Championship Series (NLCS) Game 4, Padres at Phillies, October 22". Baseball Reference. Retrieved April 12, 2025.
  32. ^ "Angels sign RHP Luis García and RHP Adam Cimber". mlb.com. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
  33. ^ "Red Sox trade for Angels righty reliever with 3.71 ERA". masslive.com. July 30, 2024. Retrieved August 2, 2024.
  34. ^ Browne, Ian (July 30, 2024). "Red Sox add bullpen depth in trades for Sims, García". mlb.com. MLB. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
  35. ^ "Red Sox add relief in Angels' Luis Garcia, Reds' Lucas Sims". ESPN.com. July 30, 2024. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
  36. ^ "Dodgers, Luis Garcia Agree To Minor League Deal". mlbtraderumors.com. February 13, 2025. Retrieved February 16, 2025.
  37. ^ Chen, Soja (March 17, 2025). "Dodgers set roster on eve of Tokyo Series opener". mlb.com. Retrieved March 17, 2025.
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