Deivi Garcia

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked New York Yankees #14 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: After signing in 2015, Garcia and his signature curveball rose through the system on the way to a spot as its top pitching prospect. He made his big league debut on Aug. 30, 2020, and opened a game in the Yankees’ playoff series against the Rays that year. This season, the wheels came off. His command and control vanished, and his 68 walks were the most by any pitcher in the organization.
  
  Scouting Report: A great deal of Garcia’s issues with control and command stem from the introduction of a slider and a delivery that has gotten out of whack as a result. Specifically, he started to fly open with his stride and his arm slot wandered, leading to a lot of pitches sprayed all over the zone but particularly high and to his armside. The drop in his arm slot was particularly noticeable on his curveball, which lacked any semblance of its former dominance and was his least-thrown offspeed pitch. A lot of analytical components point to Garcia’s rebound potential, but he must first fix his mechanical issues and rebuild his confidence after a season that was 180 degrees from what was expected.
  
  The Future: After a rough 2021 season, Garcia will head back to Triple-A to try to start fresh and re-establish some of his dented prospect stock. He’s an extraordinarily driven, competitive pitcher, and he has age still firmly on his side, but there’s a lot of work to be done.
  
• 
  Ranked New York Yankees #2 prospect in 2021
  Fastball: 55. Curveball: 60. Slider: 50. Changeup: 60. Control: 55.
  Track Record: Garcia opened 2020 at the Yankees’ alternate training site in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and made his big league debut on Aug. 30, capping a storybook rise after he signed for $200,000 as a 16-year-old in 2015. Garcia finished strong enough to earn a spot on the Yankees’ postseason roster and started Game 2 of the American League Division Series, albeit for only one inning as an opener.
  
  Scouting Report: Garcia emerged a changed pitcher in 2020. The Yankees shifted him toward the first base side of the rubber to get more on line toward home plate and toned down the rotational elements of his delivery. The result was substantially improved control, which in turn helped his stuff play better. Garcia worked to add more ride to his 91-93 mph fastball that touches 95, helping it play up beyond its pure velocity. The process of adding a slider at the end of 2019 caused Garcia’s curveball to lose some of its bite, but once the pitch was re-shaped, it resembled the potential plus offering he had shown in the past. Garcia’s changeup was his most frequently used secondary pitch in the majors, with its 11 mph separation from his fastball helping it garner a 29% whiff rate.
  
  The Future: Garcia is in line for a full-time rotation spot in 2021. He should break camp with the big league team.
• 
  Ranked New York Yankees #3 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: Garcia followed an impressive 2018 season with a strong 2019 campaign in which he rocketed from high Class A to Triple-A. He moved to the bullpen toward the end of his time with Triple-A as a means of managing his innings.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Garcia entered 2019 with a big-breaking, high-spin curveball as his signature pitch. That pitch continued to be a weapon over the first half, but the Yankees made the decision to add a slider at the midway point of his season. The mid-80s slider gave him a breaking ball that showed hitters a pitch that moved from east to west instead of the rest of his repertoire, which was most effective at the top and bottom of the strike zone. His fastball, which sat in the 92-93 mph range and touched 96-97, showed excellent carry and elicited plenty of swings and misses when elevated. His fourth pitch is a mid-80s changeup.
  
  THE FUTURE: There have long been questions about whether Garcia's slight frame will allow him to hold up as a starter over the course of a full season. Scouts are still split on whether his future is as a starter or a reliever, and he has earned comparisons with Octavio Dotel and Francisco Rodriguez.
• 
  Ranked New York Yankees #6 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: After signing a huge international class in 2014, the Yankees began 2015 in the international penalty box, meaning they could not sign any player for more than $300,000. Despite the limitations, that signing class has already produced three intriguing prospects, including outfielder Estevan Florial, righthander Luis Medina and Garcia, who ranked among the system’s biggest risers in 2018.
  
  Scouting Report: The biggest knock on Garcia is his size and high-effort delivery, which many scouts believe will eventually force a move to the bullpen. His stuff, however, has been dominant. He struck out 12.8 hitters per nine innings across three levels in 2018. He uses a three-pitch mix that starts with a low-90s fastball that topped out around 95 mph from a whip-quick arm. The gem of his arsenal is his power curveball. The pitch shows downer break and has an elite spin rate of better than 3,000 revolutions per minute. He needs to shorten the break on the pitch, but the spin and bite are enough to get plenty of swings and misses. The Yankees believe his changeup has developed to the point that it is nearing the quality of his curveball.
  
  The Future: Garcia likely will return to high Class A Tampa after making five starts there in 2018.
• 
  Ranked New York Yankees #24 prospect in 2018
  When the Yankees signed Garcia in 2015 they did so because of the big-time arm speed they saw coming from his small frame. He opened his career with 61 strikeouts in 48.2 innings in the Dominican Summer League, then in 2017 shot from the DSL to the Gulf Coast League and finished the year at Rookie-level Pulaski. He's totaled 143 strikeouts in 101 career innings, good for nearly 13 strikeouts per nine innings. He produces a low-90s fastball that peaked this year at 93 mph, but his bread and butter is a curveball that registers a spin rate of better than 3,000 on StatCast. His fastball has a high spin rate, too, and comes with riding life in the zone. He's also got a fringe-average changeup with fade and sink in the low-80s as his third pitch. He obviously needs to gain strength if he wants to find a spot in a rotation. Still a teenager, he'll have plenty of time do that. He could begin next year in extended spring training before moving to short-season Staten Island in June.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Eastern League #5 prospect in 2019
  Garcia was one of the youngest pitchers in the Eastern League this season at the age of 20. For pitchers with at last 50 innings in the EL, his strikeout rate of 14.6 per nine innings was the best. Garcia has an advanced feel for how to navigate a game. He can work hitters with his low- to mid-90s fastball or pitch backwards, throwing breaking pitches for strikes before going to his heater. He commands his fastball well, and it has late life with excellent spin rate. Garcia's curveball is a get-me-over pitch with big break, while his slider is a future wipeout pitch that is firm and misses bats. He also shows a changeup that flashes as a future average pitch. While he still needs to sharpen his control, Garcia's stuff and pitchability should give him every opportunity to start.
• 
  Ranked American League #15 prospect in 2017
  The Yankees signed Garcia for $200,000 out of the Dominican Republic when he weighed just 145 pounds. Since then, he's managed to raise that total to 163, but he will continually need to gain mass in order to fully realize his arsenal. Garcia's fastball sits in the low 90s and touches as high as 96 mph. He's able to achieve that velocity despite his diminutive 5-foot-10 frame because of a quick and efficient arm action. Like many 18-year-olds, Garcia's fastball command is lacking. His curveball is nearing plus status and boasts high spin rates and firm shape in most outings. His changeup lags behind right now, but he's able to throw it with fade here and there, and it projects to be an average offering. Garcia's delivery is loose and repeatable, leading evaluators to believe that he could one day have average control. The greatest holdup to his development right now is his size.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #55 prospect in 2021
• Ranked Baseball America's #65 prospect in 2020

• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 40/High
  
  August Update: Garcia, who just two seasons ago was an opener in a Division Series game, has had a trying past couple of seasons. He struggled badly in a return to Triple-A to begin the year, then missed nearly two months injuries before being assigned to Double-A Somerset. He still has youth on his side, but between injuries and regression it&#39s hard to see him achieving the ceiling many projected in the early stages of his career.
  
  Track Record: After signing in 2015, Garcia and his signature curveball rose through the system on the way to a spot as its top pitching prospect. He made his big league debut on Aug. 30, 2020, and opened a game in the Yankees&#39 playoff series against the Rays that year. This season, the wheels came off. His command and control vanished, and his 68 walks were the most by any pitcher in the organization.
  
  Scouting Report: A great deal of Garcia&#39s issues with control and command stem from the introduction of a slider and a delivery that has gotten out of whack as a result. Specifically, he started to fly open with his stride and his arm slot wandered, leading to a lot of pitches sprayed all over the zone but particularly high and to his armside. The drop in his arm slot was particularly noticeable on his curveball, which lacked any semblance of its former dominance and was his least-thrown offspeed pitch. A lot of analytical components point to Garcia&#39s rebound potential, but he must first fix his mechanical issues and rebuild his confidence after a season that was 180 degrees from what was expected.
  
  The Future: After a rough 2021 season, Garcia will head back to Triple-A to try to start fresh and re-establish some of his dented prospect stock. He&#39s an extraordinarily driven, competitive pitcher, and he has age still firmly on his side, but there&#39s a lot of work to be done.
• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: After signing in 2015, Garcia and his signature curveball rose through the system on the way to a spot as its top pitching prospect. He made his big league debut on Aug. 30, 2020, and opened a game in the Yankees’ playoff series against the Rays that year. This season, the wheels came off. His command and control vanished, and his 68 walks were the most by any pitcher in the organization.
  
  Scouting Report: A great deal of Garcia’s issues with control and command stem from the introduction of a slider and a delivery that has gotten out of whack as a result. Specifically, he started to fly open with his stride and his arm slot wandered, leading to a lot of pitches sprayed all over the zone but particularly high and to his armside. The drop in his arm slot was particularly noticeable on his curveball, which lacked any semblance of its former dominance and was his least-thrown offspeed pitch. A lot of analytical components point to Garcia’s rebound potential, but he must first fix his mechanical issues and rebuild his confidence after a season that was 180 degrees from what was expected.
  
  The Future: After a rough 2021 season, Garcia will head back to Triple-A to try to start fresh and re-establish some of his dented prospect stock. He’s an extraordinarily driven, competitive pitcher, and he has age still firmly on his side, but there’s a lot of work to be done.
  
• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  Fastball: 55. Curveball: 60. Slider: 50. Changeup: 60. Control: 55.
  Track Record: Garcia opened 2020 at the Yankees' alternate training site in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and made his big league debut on Aug. 30, capping a storybook rise after he signed for $200,000 as a 16-year-old in 2015. Garcia finished strong enough to earn a spot on the Yankees' postseason roster and started Game 2 of the American League Division Series, albeit for only one inning as an opener.
  
  Scouting Report: Garcia emerged a changed pitcher in 2020. The Yankees shifted him toward the first base side of the rubber to get more on line toward home plate and toned down the rotational elements of his delivery. The result was substantially improved control, which in turn helped his stuff play better. Garcia worked to add more ride to his 91-93 mph fastball that touches 95, helping it play up beyond its pure velocity. The process of adding a slider at the end of 2019 caused Garcia's curveball to lose some of its bite, but once the pitch was re-shaped, it resembled the potential plus offering he had shown in the past. Garcia's changeup was his most frequently used secondary pitch in the majors, with its 11 mph separation from his fastball helping it garner a 29% whiff rate.
  
  The Future: Garcia is in line for a full-time rotation spot in 2021. He should break camp with the big league team.
• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  Fastball: 55. Curveball: 60. Slider: 50. Changeup: 60. Control: 55.
  Track Record: Garcia opened 2020 at the Yankees’ alternate training site in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and made his big league debut on Aug. 30, capping a storybook rise after he signed for $200,000 as a 16-year-old in 2015. Garcia finished strong enough to earn a spot on the Yankees’ postseason roster and started Game 2 of the American League Division Series, albeit for only one inning as an opener.
  
  Scouting Report: Garcia emerged a changed pitcher in 2020. The Yankees shifted him toward the first base side of the rubber to get more on line toward home plate and toned down the rotational elements of his delivery. The result was substantially improved control, which in turn helped his stuff play better. Garcia worked to add more ride to his 91-93 mph fastball that touches 95, helping it play up beyond its pure velocity. The process of adding a slider at the end of 2019 caused Garcia’s curveball to lose some of its bite, but once the pitch was re-shaped, it resembled the potential plus offering he had shown in the past. Garcia’s changeup was his most frequently used secondary pitch in the majors, with its 11 mph separation from his fastball helping it garner a 29% whiff rate.
  
  The Future: Garcia is in line for a full-time rotation spot in 2021. He should break camp with the big league team.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  Fastball: 55. Curveball: 60. Slider: 50. Changeup: 60. Control: 55.
  Track Record: Garcia opened 2020 at the Yankees’ alternate training site in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and made his big league debut on Aug. 30, capping a storybook rise after he signed for $200,000 as a 16-year-old in 2015. Garcia finished strong enough to earn a spot on the Yankees’ postseason roster and started Game 2 of the American League Division Series, albeit for only one inning as an opener.
  
  Scouting Report: Garcia emerged a changed pitcher in 2020. The Yankees shifted him toward the first base side of the rubber to get more on line toward home plate and toned down the rotational elements of his delivery. The result was substantially improved control, which in turn helped his stuff play better. Garcia worked to add more ride to his 91-93 mph fastball that touches 95, helping it play up beyond its pure velocity. The process of adding a slider at the end of 2019 caused Garcia’s curveball to lose some of its bite, but once the pitch was re-shaped, it resembled the potential plus offering he had shown in the past. Garcia’s changeup was his most frequently used secondary pitch in the majors, with its 11 mph separation from his fastball helping it garner a 29% whiff rate.
  
  The Future: Garcia is in line for a full-time rotation spot in 2021. He should break camp with the big league team.
• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Garcia followed an impressive 2018 season with a strong 2019 campaign in which he rocketed from high Class A to Triple-A. He moved to the bullpen toward the end of his time with Triple-A as a means of managing his innings.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Garcia entered 2019 with a big-breaking, high-spin curveball as his signature pitch. That pitch continued to be a weapon over the first half, but the Yankees made the decision to add a slider at the midway point of his season. The mid-80s slider gave him a breaking ball that showed hitters a pitch that moved from east to west instead of the rest of his repertoire, which was most effective at the top and bottom of the strike zone. His fastball, which sat in the 92-93 mph range and touched 96-97, showed excellent carry and elicited plenty of swings and misses when elevated. His fourth pitch is a mid-80s changeup.
  
  THE FUTURE: There have long been questions about whether Garcia’s slight frame will allow him to hold up as a starter over the course of a full season. Scouts are still split on whether his future is as a starter or a reliever, and he has earned comparisons with Octavio Dotel and Francisco Rodriguez.
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Garcia followed an impressive 2018 season with a strong 2019 campaign in which he rocketed from high Class A to Triple-A. He moved to the bullpen toward the end of his time with Triple-A as a means of managing his innings.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Garcia entered 2019 with a big-breaking, high-spin curveball as his signature pitch. That pitch continued to be a weapon over the first half, but the Yankees made the decision to add a slider at the midway point of his season. The mid-80s slider gave him a breaking ball that showed hitters a pitch that moved from east to west instead of the rest of his repertoire, which was most effective at the top and bottom of the strike zone. His fastball, which sat in the 92-93 mph range and touched 96-97, showed excellent carry and elicited plenty of swings and misses when elevated. His fourth pitch is a mid-80s changeup.
  
  THE FUTURE: There have long been questions about whether Garcia's slight frame will allow him to hold up as a starter over the course of a full season. Scouts are still split on whether his future is as a starter or a reliever, and he has earned comparisons with Octavio Dotel and Francisco Rodriguez.
• December, 2018 Scouting Report
  Garcia was one of the youngest pitchers in the Eastern League this season at the age of 20. For pitchers with at last 50 innings in the EL, his strikeout rate of 14.6 per nine innings was the best. Garcia has an advanced feel for how to navigate a game. He can work hitters with his low- to mid-90s fastball or pitch backwards, throwing breaking pitches for strikes before going to his heater. He commands his fastball well, and it has late life with excellent spin rate. Garcia's curveball is a get-me-over pitch with big break, while his slider is a future wipeout pitch that is firm and misses bats. He also shows a changeup that flashes as a future average pitch. While he still needs to sharpen his control, Garcia's stuff and pitchability should give him every opportunity to start.