Cardinals Make Bet On Jose Adolis Garcia

JUPITER, Fla.—For the first time, the Cardinals are seeing the rewards of an increased international presence arrive at big league camp, but even as general manager John Mozeliak surveyed his top prospects, half of which came from international sources, he saw something missing.

Cuban Jose Adolis Garcia might be the answer.

Garcia, who turned 24 shortly after signing, agreed to a $2.5 million deal with the Cardinals in late February and immediately reported to big league camp. The younger brother of Braves third baseman Adonis Garcia will appear in spring training games as soon as he receives a work visa.

“You’re making a lot of longer-term bets on our younger players,” Mozeliak said. “But here’s an opportunity to sign somebody who’s clearly on the doorstep of the big leagues. It helps balance that out. I think that was what was attractive for me to pursue this. The scouting reports were positive.”

The reigning MVP of Cuba’s major league and a standout at a recent Pan Am Games, Garcia is a toolsy outfielder with a standout arm and burner speed. He’s a physical specimen, according to Cardinals manager Mike Matheny.

The Cardinals believe there is power to be found in Garcia’s bat, but that will come with time and a better sense of the strike zone.

The Cardinals have him targeted for Double-A Springfield to open the season.

It’s possible that at some point this season, the Cardinals’ starting center fielders at the highest three affiliates will all be international signees: Garcia, Cuban Randy Arozarena, and Dominican Magneuris Sierra.

Garcia’s bonus matches the one the Cardinals gave Rick Ankiel 20 years ago and is one of the largest ever for the organization. “Ultimately,” Mozeliak said of Garcia, “he’ll be tested right away.”

REDBIRD CHIRPS

• Matheny said a big league coach with another team asked him if Sierra was going to make the big league roster. Scouts believe Sierra can play center field in the majors now, but the Cardinals think his speed and lefthanded swing could emerge after more development into a leadoff-type batter.

• After years of trying to develop a cutter, righthander Sam Tuivailala has shifted back to a curveball that he toyed with at the Arizona Fall League in 2014. He had 10 strikeouts in his first four innings of spring training.

— Derrick Goold covers the Cardinals for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch