David Garcia

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Texas Rangers #19 prospect in 2021
  TRACK RECORD: Several clubs considered Garcia the top catcher in the 2016 international class when the Rangers signed him for $800,000. Garcia has moved slowly and is yet to play above short-season ball, but the Rangers opted to add him to their 40-man roster after the 2020 season.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: The switch-hitting Garcia has a good idea of the strike zone for his age. That allows him to be a line-drive, gap-to-gap hitter and fairly equal from both sides of the plate. Garcia isn't much of a power threat, and what power he does have is to the pull side. His bat is behind his defense, which is the best among catchers in the system and will be his ticket to the big leagues. He is an above-average receiver who moves well with quick footwork. He has an above-average, accurate arm that has allowed him to throw out 35 percent of attempted basestealers in his career.
  
  THE FUTURE: Garcia will jump to full-season ball in 2021. He will try to distance himself from a pack of catchers system-wide and take the lead in the race to be Sam Huff's future backup.
• 
  Ranked Texas Rangers #24 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: Garcia was one of the top catchers in the 2016 international class when the Rangers signed him out of Venezuela for $800,000. He struggled in his pro debut in the Dominican Summer League and didn't deliver much offensive impact his first two seasons, but added strength helped his performance tick up in 2019 as a top prospect in the short-season Northwest League.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Garcia has the attributes to be an average to above-average defensive catcher. He receives and blocks well for his age and he has a plus arm. His feet work well behind the plate, he gets rid of the ball quickly and makes on-target throws. Garcia has a simple, fluid swing from both sides of the plate, showing good bat-to-ball skills and a solid eye for the strike zone. Getting stronger led to a jump in his extra-base hit numbers, though he's more of a line-drive hitter with enough strength projection to grow into a 10-15 home run hitter.
  
  THE FUTURE: Going to full-season ball in the low Class A South Atlantic League in 2020 will be a big test for Garcia to show he has enough offensive ability to be a starting catcher.
• 
  Ranked Texas Rangers #24 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: Garcia was one of the top prospects available for the in the 2016-17 international signing period, with the Rangers signing him for $800,000 out of Venezuela on July 2, 2016. In his U.S. debut, Garcia got off to a rough start offensively in the Rookie-level Arizona League, but he finished with a flourish, batting .426/.491/.617 in August.
  
  Scouting Report: Garcia projects to stick behind the plate, where he has an above-average arm and gets rid of the ball quickly with swift footwork and accurate throws. He blocks and receives well for his age, and while he's a passionate player, he plays even-keeled and under control, which helped him separate his defensive game during his early-season offensive struggles. Once Garcia made a swing adjustment to be able to better use his hands, his offensive performance spiked. He has a simple, direct swing and makes consistent contact, with doubles power now and enough projection to develop 10-15 home run power
  
  The Future: Getting stronger will be crucial for Garcia to be able to drive the ball with more impact against better pitching.
• 
  Ranked Texas Rangers #16 prospect in 2018
  Garcia was a small and slightly built as a 15-year-old, but over the next year he got stronger and improved on both sides of the ball to become a player several clubs considered the top catcher on the international market. He signed in 2016 for $800,000, and while he showed some positive signs in his pro debut especially during extended spring training, he mostly struggled while playing in the Dominican Summer League. Garcia, who made the move from shortstop to catching full-time a year and a half before signing, threw out 41 percent of basestealers. He has an above-average, accurate arm with a clean throwing stroke and has quick feet to get rid of the ball quickly. He has soft hands and receives well. Garcia has the components to hit, with a simple stroke, solid contact skills and a mature, patient approach. Garcia doesn't have much power though and probably never will, but he will need to get stronger to do more damage on contact and become more than a singles hitter. The Rookie-level Arizona League should be the next step for Garcia in 2018.
• 
  Ranked Texas Rangers #13 prospect in 2017
  The year before he was eligible to sign, Garcia was a small, frail 15-year-old at 5-foot-9, 145 pounds, but as he grew taller, gained weight and improved both as a hitter and a defender, he developed into the player many clubs had ranked as the top catching prospect on the 2016 international market. The Rangers signed him for $800,000. Garcia has a simple, compact swing from both sides. His lefty stroke used to get long but he shortened that up before signing to the point some scouts now think he is more advanced from that side. Garcia has good plate coverage and a sound hitting mindset, working the middle of the field with a line-drive approach. He has a medium frame with gap power and doesn't project to be a big home run threat. Garcia originally was a shortstop but committed to catching a year and a half before he signed. He projects to stay there because he's a smooth receiver for his age with quick feet and soft hands. His arm was average when he signed with good arm action and has already improved to flashing plus, with a quick release and good accuracy. Garcia probably will make his pro debut in the Dominican Summer League.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Northwest League #12 prospect in 2019
  One of the top players available in the 2016 international class, Garcia more than held his own in what is typically a college-heavy league. He was known as an amateur for his defensive chops, and he quickly proved himself as a plus receiver who can also block and throw with aplomb. He threw out 32 percent of runners with an accurate, above-average throwing arm as well as strong footwork and transfer skills. He shows excellent bat-to-ball skills from both sides of the plate, though his splits were far better from the right side. His swing features quite a bit of moving parts, but he mitigates that with strong hand-eye coordination and an advanced knowledge of the strike zone and how to zero in on pitches on which he can best do damage. There’s a chance he finds his way into an everyday role, but even if he doesn’t he should provide enough value to be a solid backup.

• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Several clubs considered Garcia the top catcher in the 2016 international class when the Rangers signed him for $800,000. Garcia has moved slowly and is yet to play above short-season ball, but the Rangers opted to add him to their 40-man roster after the 2020 season.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: The switch-hitting Garcia has a good idea of the strike zone for his age. That allows him to be a line-drive, gap-to-gap hitter and fairly equal from both sides of the plate. Garcia isn't much of a power threat, and what power he does have is to the pull side. His bat is behind his defense, which is the best among catchers in the system and will be his ticket to the big leagues. He is an above-average receiver who moves well with quick footwork. He has an above-average, accurate arm that has allowed him to throw out 35 percent of attempted basestealers in his career.
  
  THE FUTURE: Garcia will jump to full-season ball in 2021. He will try to distance himself from a pack of catchers system-wide and take the lead in the race to be Sam Huff's future backup.
• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Several clubs considered Garcia the top catcher in the 2016 international class when the Rangers signed him for $800,000. Garcia has moved slowly and is yet to play above short-season ball, but the Rangers opted to add him to their 40-man roster after the 2020 season.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: The switch-hitting Garcia has a good idea of the strike zone for his age. That allows him to be a line-drive, gap-to-gap hitter and fairly equal from both sides of the plate. Garcia isn't much of a power threat, and what power he does have is to the pull side. His bat is behind his defense, which is the best among catchers in the system and will be his ticket to the big leagues. He is an above-average receiver who moves well with quick footwork. He has an above-average, accurate arm that has allowed him to throw out 35 percent of attempted basestealers in his career.
  
  THE FUTURE: Garcia will jump to full-season ball in 2021. He will try to distance himself from a pack of catchers system-wide and take the lead in the race to be Sam Huff's future backup.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Several clubs considered Garcia the top catcher in the 2016 international class when the Rangers signed him for $800,000. Garcia has moved slowly and is yet to play above short-season ball, but the Rangers opted to add him to their 40-man roster after the 2020 season.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: The switch-hitting Garcia has a good idea of the strike zone for his age. That allows him to be a line-drive, gap-to-gap hitter and fairly equal from both sides of the plate. Garcia isn't much of a power threat, and what power he does have is to the pull side. His bat is behind his defense, which is the best among catchers in the system and will be his ticket to the big leagues. He is an above-average receiver who moves well with quick footwork. He has an above-average, accurate arm that has allowed him to throw out 35 percent of attempted basestealers in his career.
  
  THE FUTURE: Garcia will jump to full-season ball in 2021. He will try to distance himself from a pack of catchers system-wide and take the lead in the race to be Sam Huff's future backup.
• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Garcia was one of the top catchers in the 2016 international class when the Rangers signed him out of Venezuela for $800,000. He struggled in his pro debut in the Dominican Summer League and didn’t deliver much offensive impact his first two seasons, but added strength helped his performance tick up in 2019 as a top prospect in the short-season Northwest League.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Garcia has the attributes to be an average to above-average defensive catcher. He receives and blocks well for his age and he has a plus arm. His feet work well behind the plate, he gets rid of the ball quickly and makes on-target throws. Garcia has a simple, fluid swing from both sides of the plate, showing good bat-to-ball skills and a solid eye for the strike zone. Getting stronger led to a jump in his extra-base hit numbers, though he’s more of a line-drive hitter with enough strength projection to grow into a 10-15 home run hitter.
  
  THE FUTURE: Going to full-season ball in the low Class A South Atlantic League in 2020 will be a big test for Garcia to show he has enough offensive ability to be a starting catcher.
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Garcia was one of the top catchers in the 2016 international class when the Rangers signed him out of Venezuela for $800,000. He struggled in his pro debut in the Dominican Summer League and didn't deliver much offensive impact his first two seasons, but added strength helped his performance tick up in 2019 as a top prospect in the short-season Northwest League.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Garcia has the attributes to be an average to above-average defensive catcher. He receives and blocks well for his age and he has a plus arm. His feet work well behind the plate, he gets rid of the ball quickly and makes on-target throws. Garcia has a simple, fluid swing from both sides of the plate, showing good bat-to-ball skills and a solid eye for the strike zone. Getting stronger led to a jump in his extra-base hit numbers, though he's more of a line-drive hitter with enough strength projection to grow into a 10-15 home run hitter.
  
  THE FUTURE: Going to full-season ball in the low Class A South Atlantic League in 2020 will be a big test for Garcia to show he has enough offensive ability to be a starting catcher.
• December, 2018 Scouting Report
  One of the top players available in the 2016 international class, Garcia more than held his own in what is typically a college-heavy league. He was known as an amateur for his defensive chops, and he quickly proved himself as a plus receiver who can also block and throw with aplomb. He threw out 32 percent of runners with an accurate, above-average throwing arm as well as strong footwork and transfer skills. He shows excellent bat-to-ball skills from both sides of the plate, though his splits were far better from the right side. His swing features quite a bit of moving parts, but he mitigates that with strong hand-eye coordination and an advanced knowledge of the strike zone and how to zero in on pitches on which he can best do damage. There’s a chance he finds his way into an everyday role, but even if he doesn’t he should provide enough value to be a solid backup.