Hector Garcia

HECTOR GARCIA, LEFT HANDED PITCHER
Born: October 4, 1995
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 170
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
Signed: Int’l Free Agent, 2013, Pittsburgh Pirates
How Acquired: International Free Agent
Country: Dominican Republic
Agent: N/A

WTM’S PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES

Garcia signed at age 17, shortly before the 2013 season.  He threw in the upper-80s when he signed, but he’s gotten up to 92 since then.  He also throws a curve and change.

2013
DSL:  3-2-1, 2.40 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 41.1 IP, 4.8 BB/9, 8.9 K/9

Garcia had a strong debut out of the bullpen.  He struck out almost exactly a batter an inning and opponents hit only .200 against him.  Left-handed batters hit .136, but that was in a very small sample size.  He had control issues, but given his age they weren’t alarming.

2014
R+:  1-5-0, 3.38 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 48.0 IP, 3.6 BB/9, 9.4 K/9

The Pirates sent Garcia to Bristol, which, considering his age and experience, shows they consider him a real prospect.  He pitched well out of the rotation, fanning over a batter an inning and holding opponents to a 222/300/339 line.  Left-handed hitters managed only a .291 OPS against him, albeit in very few ABs as opponents apparently loaded their lineups with righties.  He made significant progress as the season wore on, holding opponents to a 186/278/214 line in August.

2015
A-:  1-2-0, 6.91 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 14.1 IP, 6.3 BB/9, 11.9 K/9

A little surprisingly, the Pirates sent Garcia to the New York-Penn League.  He dominated in his first two starts, then struggled badly in three.  He went on the disabled list after the last one and ultimately had Tommy John surgery.

2016
R:  1-0-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.83 WHIP, 6.0 IP, 1.5 BB/9, 12.0 K/9

Garcia got into four games late in the GCL season.  Judging by the numbers, he made a very successful recovery.

2017
R:  0-0-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.00 WHIP, 4.0 IP, 0.0 BB/9, 9.0 K/9
A-:  0-1-1, 6.75 ERA, 2.08 WHIP, 12.0 IP, 3.8 BB/9, 4.5 K/9
A:  1-0-0, 1.93 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 9.1 IP, 1.0 BB/9, 10.6 K/9

Garcia opened the season with West Virginia and pitched very well through five relief appearances, but he went on the disabled list with a sore shoulder near the end of April.  After two and a half months, he went on rehab in the GCL and then moved up to Morgantown.  He struggled there, so he may not have been fully recovered yet.

Unfortunately, Garcia has lost most of three seasons to injury troubles.  He’s already eligible for the Rule 5 draft.  Hopefully, he’ll be able to make it back to class A in 2018.

CONTRACT INFORMATION
2018: Minor League Contract
PLAYER INFORMATION
Signing Bonus: $190,000
MiLB Debut: 2013
MLB Debut: N/A
MiLB FA Eligible: 2019
MLB FA Eligible: N/A
Rule 5 Eligible: 2017
Added to 40-Man: N/A
Options Remaining: 3
MLB Service Time: 0.000
TRANSACTIONS
February 21, 2013: Signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates as an international free agent.