Jason Garcia

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Baltimore Orioles #29 prospect in 2017
  Garcia made a big impression on the Orioles as a Red Sox prospect in 2014 instructional league when he fanned 14 of 18 Orioles hitters, including Chance Sisco, Christian Walker and Chris Davis with mid- to high-90s heat. The Orioles remembered vividly and selected Garcia in the 2015 Rule 5 draft. They carried him on the major league roster for that entire season, knowing he was a long-term bet who would pitch sparingly and return to the minors afterward. Garcia joined Double-A Bowie's rotation in 2016 and went 6-10, 4.73, with a focus more on developing his pitches for a future bullpen role rather than holding up deep into games. Garcia pitched at 92-93 mph as a starter in 2016 but previously touched 97 as a reliever in the big leagues. Garcia's solid-average mid-80s slider is ahead of his changeup right now, and he is gaining confidence to throw his slider when behind in counts. He throws with a free-and-easy delivery and made strides with his command under the tutelage of Bowie pitching coach Alan Mills. Garcia could open 2017 in the Triple-A Norfolk rotation, with a chance to get back to Baltimore as a reliever during the season.
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  Ranked Baltimore Orioles #12 prospect in 2016
  The Orioles acquired Garcia in the 2014 Rule 5 draft after he missed most of the 2013 season recovering from Tommy John surgery. Orioles scout Danny Haas worked as a crosschecker with Boston when they selected Garcia in the 17th round of the 2010 draft. Baltimore was impressed during 2014 instructional league when Garcia showed mid- to upper-90s heat and fanned 14 of 18 Orioles hitters including Chance Sisco, Christian Walker and Chris Davis. Garcia pitched in 21 big league games in 2015 and spent two months on the disabled list with right shoulder tendinitis. He had never pitched above low Class A but finished strong for Baltimore with a 2.81 ERA in August and September. Orioles coaches Dave Wallace and Dom Chiti tinkered with Garcia's delivery and got him more on line to the plate, and he soaked up information from his bullpen mates in Baltimore. Garcia features a four-seam fastball from 95-97 mph and a two-seamer in the low 90s that runs away from lefties. His mid-80s slider is a solid-average pitch and he also throws a changeup. His command is below-average. Garcia's future is in the bullpen, but he could start 2016 at Double-A Bowie or Triple-A Norfolk for pitch development.
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  Ranked Baltimore Orioles #17 prospect in 2015
  After he missed most of 2013 as he recovered from Tommy John surgery, Garcia came back with explosive stuff, sitting at 94-98 mph and touching triple digits in 2014 while also featuring a slider that garnered some swings and misses. The Orioles selected him from the Red Sox in the major league phase of the Rule 5 draft in December. Orioles scout Danny Haas worked as a crosschecker with Boston when they selected Garcia in the 17th round of the 2010 draft. Baltimore got a good chance to scout him when he struck out 14 of 18 Orioles hitters in a fall instructional league game, including Chance Sisco, Christian Walker and Chris Davis. Garcia's mid-80s slider is a present average pitch, and if it becomes more consistent he has potential closer stuff. His fastball features a late burst up in the zone that makes it seem unhittable at times. Garcia must improve his control (career walk rate of 4.6 per nine innings), but his delivery is easy enough that evaluators believe he can do just that. He finished the 2014 season in the low Class A bullpen, so he faces a four-level leap to the majors if he's going to stick as a Rule 5 pick.