Edgar Alberto Garcia

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Philadelphia Phillies #26 prospect in 2010
  Garcia and Carlos Carrasco often were mentioned in tandem because they signed a year apart for significant money. They once were also two of the best righthanders in the system, but Carrasco went to Cleveland in the Cliff Lee trade last summer and Garcia wasn't protected on the 40-man roster after performing poorly in the Arizona Fall League. Garcia flashes the stuff that earned him a $500,000 signing bonus, but not on a consistent basis. He had a 92-94 mph fastball when he signed and worked at 93-96 during the high Class A Florida State League all-star game in 2008. But after he had visa problems in 2009 and didn't take the mound until late July, his arm strength was down. His fastball was average at best in the AFL, flattening out at times and getting hammered. His slider remains his best pitch, peaking in the mid-80s with depth, and he has a solid-average changeup. He has a good feel for using his secondary pitches and can get on a roll if he throws strikes with his fastball. Garcia still has a high ceiling, but his chances of reaching it keep getting smaller--which is why he didn't find any takers in the Rule 5 draft. He'll give Double-A another try after getting torched there in 2008.
• 
  Ranked Philadelphia Phillies #19 prospect in 2009
  Garcia signed the same year as Carrasco and is the top Dominican Republic product in the system, but again took two steps back after taking a step forward in 2008. Garcia began the season with his first trip to high Class A and performed well, winning eight of 10 decisions and throwing strikes with a fastball that at times hit 96 mph. However, Garcia had just two quality starts out of 11 in Double-A, and one club official termed his stay there as "batting practice." Garcia's fastball has good life but he doesn't command it well, as he tends to overthrow. When he gets in trouble, he tries to throw harder, and he threw plenty of 90 mph heaters over the fat part of the plate with Reading. He did make progress with his changeup and has settled on a breaking ball, a hard slurve that should be an average pitch. Garcia will return to Double-A in 2009 as a 21-year-old, and has plenty of time to establish himself, but the influx of pitching talent added in the last two drafts will push Garcia to get better or get out of the way.
• 
  Ranked Philadelphia Phillies #14 prospect in 2008
  Ranked No. 4 on this list a year ago, Garcia showed up out of shape in spring training and encountered several minor injuries that nagged him at Lakewood and he never got fully untracked. Signed for $500,000 out of the Dominican Republic in 2004, Garcia has pure stuff on par with Carrasco's. He has excellent life on his fastball and though his velocity was down for much of last season, it returned to its usual low 90s during instructional league. After throwing two variations of curveballs, Garcia settled on a hard-breaking 81-83 mph bender that resembles a slider at times. He hasn't made strides with his changeup, and might be better suited in a relief role. His delivery is simple and repeatable, allowing him to throw strikes with ease. That was a rarity for much of 2007, however, and Garcia needs to command the fastball more effectively. The Phillies have questioned his work ethic, and he'll have to maintain a strict work regimen if he's going to reach his ultimate ceiling of a middle-of-the-rotation starter. Still just 20, he should advance to high Class A at some point this year.
• 
  Ranked Philadelphia Phillies #4 prospect in 2007
  The Phillies followed Garcia as a 15-year-old in the Dominican in 2004 and signed him for $500,000 just before he planned to attend the Perfect Game/Baseball America World Wood Bat Championship. Garcia spent the bulk of his first full season in the United States in extended spring training, where he refined his delivery and worked on his secondary pitches. After rushing Carlos Carrasco, Philadelphia sent Garcia to short-season Batavia at age 18, and he had a successful summer. Garcia has excellent life on a 91-92 mph fastball that tops out at 95. He should find more velocity as he grows into an already sturdy frame. He throws two variations of a curveball, a harder 81-83 mph version that more resembles a slider and a softer pitch with true 12-to-6 break. After working on the arm speed and command of his changeup, Garcia used it more in 2006 and showed flashes of making it a plus pitch. While Garcia's secondary pitches are improved, they still lack consistency. He tends to get around on his breaking pitches, resulting in erratic command. While his delivery is simple and repeatable, the arm speed on his changeup has to be practically flawless because he doesn't create a lot of deception. The Phillies compare Garcia to Carrasco for both his repertoire and his advanced feel for pitching. They'll continue to bring Garcia along slowly and can't wait to see what he does in his first taste of full-season ball at Lakewood.
• 
  Ranked Philadelphia Phillies #12 prospect in 2006
  The Phillies tracked Garcia for more than a year and signed him right before he played in the Perfect Game/Baseball America World Wood Bat Championship in the fall of 2004. He worked out for the Phillies, who were in nearby Clearwater, Fla., for their organizational meetings, and they signed him for $500,000 before he could boost his stock at the showcase. He made significant progress in his first year in the system. Garcia features a lively 91-94 mph fastball along with smooth mechanics and a sturdy build that offer the promise of more velocity. Garcia's changeup should emerge as a plus pitch, as he sells it with fastball arm speed and will throw it in any count. His feel and poise are impressive. Garcia's 12-to-6 curveball is still inconsistent. Given time, he should be able to refine it into at least an average offering. The Phillies will move Garcia slowly, with Batavia his scheduled stop for 2006. They believe he may be two years before starting to put everything together, after which he could ascend rapidly and ultimately wind up as a No. 2 or 3 starter.
• 
  Ranked Philadelphia Phillies #9 prospect in 2005
  Sal Agostinelli and Wil Tejada doggedly tracked Garcia's progress for a year before he headed to the Perfect Game/Baseball America World Wood Bat Championship last fall. Garcia made a quick pit stop to pitch at the Phillies' training complex in nearby Clearwater, and the staff regarded him as the equivalent of a second- or third-round pick. They signed him for $500,000. In his Clearwater workout, Garcia showed off a plus fastball that reached 94 mph and flashed a power 12-to-6 curveball at 80 mph. His delivery and arm action are clean, especially for a 17-year-old pitcher with limited experience. His big, strong frame should lend itself to durability and more velocity down the road. The Phillies also like his tenacity on the mound. Garcia's changeup still has a ways to go before it's considered average. His biggest need now is more experience to learn how to make in-game adjustments. His arm slot is a little high, but that should be easily correctable. Garcia will make his pro debut in the Gulf Coast League in 2005. He should emerge as a No. 2 or 3 starter.