Aramis Garcia

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name = Aramis Garcia

|image = Aramis Garcia 9-11-24.jpg

|caption = Garcia with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2024

|team = Arizona Diamondbacks

|number =

|position = Catcher

|bats = Right

|throws = Right

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1993|1|12}}

|birth_place = Hialeah, Florida, U.S.

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate = August 31

|debutyear = 2018

|debutteam = San Francisco Giants

|statyear = 2024 season

|statleague = MLB

|stat1label = Batting average

|stat1value = .211

|stat2label = Home runs

|stat2value = 10

|stat3label = Runs batted in

|stat3value = 25

|teams=

San Francisco Giants ({{mlby|2018}}–{{mlby|2019}})
Oakland Athletics ({{mlby|2021}})
Cincinnati Reds ({{mlby|2022}})
Philadelphia Phillies ({{mlby|2024}})

}}

Aramis Michael Garcia (born January 12, 1993) is an American professional baseball catcher in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization. The San Francisco Giants selected Garcia in the second round of the 2014 MLB draft. He made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut with the Giants in 2018 and has also played for the Oakland Athletics, Cincinnati Reds, and Philadelphia Phillies.

Early life

Garcia attended Pembroke Pines Charter High School in Pembroke Pines, Florida.

College career

He enrolled at Florida International University (FIU) to play college baseball for the FIU Panthers.{{cite web|url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2014-06-05/sports/sfl-fius-aramis-garcia-selected-in-mlb-draft-20140605_1_san-francisco-giants-louis-cardinals-aramis-garcia|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160203124035/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2014-06-05/sports/sfl-fius-aramis-garcia-selected-in-mlb-draft-20140605_1_san-francisco-giants-louis-cardinals-aramis-garcia|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 3, 2016|title=FIU's Aramis Garcia selected by San Francisco Giants in MLB Draft|work=tribunedigital-sunsentinel|access-date=January 28, 2016}} In 2012 and 2013, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Cotuit Kettleers of the Cape Cod Baseball League.{{cite web|author= |url=http://pointstreak.com/baseball/player.html?playerid=318406 |title=#12 Aramis Garcia - Profile |publisher=pointstreak.com |date= |access-date=January 9, 2020}}{{cite web|author= |url=http://pointstreak.com/baseball/player.html?playerid=467385&seasonid=21954 |title=Aramis Garcia - Profile |publisher=pointstreak.com |date= |access-date=January 9, 2020}} In 2014, Garcia batted .368/.442/.626 and was named the Conference USA Baseball Player of the Year{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=garcia000ara |title=Aramis Garcia College, Minor & Fall Leagues Statistics & History |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |date= |access-date=2019-11-19}}{{cite web|url=http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/college/conference-usa/florida-international-university/article1964758.html|title=Aramis Garcia will catch for FIU in Conference USA tournament opener|work=miamiherald|access-date=January 28, 2016}} and a semifinalist for the Johnny Bench Award.{{cite web|url=http://www.csnbayarea.com/giants/giants-draft-florida-international-catcher-aramis-garcia-0|title=Giants draft Florida International catcher Aramis Garcia|work=CSN Bay Area|access-date=January 28, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160204232348/http://www.csnbayarea.com/giants/giants-draft-florida-international-catcher-aramis-garcia-0|archive-date=February 4, 2016|url-status=dead}}

Professional career

=San Francisco Giants=

==Minor leagues (2014–2018)==

The St. Louis Cardinals selected him in the 20th round of the 2011 Major League Baseball draft, but he did not sign a contract with them. The San Francisco Giants selected Garcia in the second round, with the 52nd overall selection, of the 2014 Major League Baseball draft. The Giants signed Garcia to a contract with a $1.1 million signing bonus.{{cite web|url=http://www.csnbayarea.com/giants/report-giants-agree-terms-second-rounder|title=Report: Giants agree to terms with second-rounder|work=CSN Bay Area|access-date=January 28, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150318054354/http://www.csnbayarea.com/giants/report-giants-agree-terms-second-rounder|archive-date=March 18, 2015|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://m.mlb.com/news/article/84800200/giants-sign-second-round-draft-pick-aramis-garcia|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160114103125/http://m.mlb.com/news/article/84800200/giants-sign-second-round-draft-pick-aramis-garcia|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 14, 2016|title=Giants sign second-round Draft pick Aramis Garcia|work=Major League Baseball|access-date=January 28, 2016}} In his first professional season, he played for both the AZL Giants and the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes, posting a combined .225 batting average with two home runs and 15 RBIs. He began the 2015 season with the Augusta GreenJackets of the Single–A South Atlantic League, where he was named a midseason All-Star.{{cite web|url=http://chronicle.augusta.com/sports/baseball/2015-06-22/garcia-heads-greenjackets-all-stars-getting-recognition|title=Garcia heads GreenJackets All-Stars getting recognition|work=The Augusta Chronicle|access-date=January 28, 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://chronicle.augusta.com/sports/baseball/2015-07-14/greenjackets-garcia-breaking-out-plate|title=GreenJackets' Garcia breaking out at plate|work=The Augusta Chronicle|access-date=January 28, 2016}} He received a midseason promotion to the San Jose Giants of the High–A California League and finished the year there; in 103 total games between the two teams, he batted .264/.342/.431 with 15 home runs and 66 RBIs.

Garcia received an invitation to spring training in 2016 as a non-roster player.{{cite web|url=http://sjgiants.mlblogs.com/2016/01/27/former-sj-giants-receive-spring-training-invites-4/|title=Former SJ Giants Receive Spring Training Invites|work=Inside the San Jose Giants|access-date=January 28, 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.sfgate.com/giants/article/Giants-non-roster-invitees-include-Tyler-6785541.php|title=Giants' non-roster invitees include Tyler Beede, Christian Arroyo|author=John Shea|date=January 26, 2016|work=SFGate|access-date=January 28, 2016}} He missed two months of the 2016 season due to multiple facial fractures he suffered during a May 22 game.{{cite web|url=http://www.sfgiantpotential.net/home/2016/11/18/qa-with-giants-top-catching-prospect-aramis-garcia|title=Q&A with Giants' top catching prospect Aramis Garcia|publisher=Giant Potential|access-date=February 20, 2018}} When he returned, he played for San Jose where he batted .257/323/340 with two home runs and 20 RBIs in 41 games. In 2017, he played for both San Jose and the Richmond Flying Squirrels of the Double–A Eastern League, posting a combined .274 batting average with 17 home runs and 73 RBIs along with an .808 OPS in 103 games between the two games.{{cite web|url=http://www.milb.com/player/index.jsp?player_id=605244#/career/R/hitting/2018/ALL|title=Aramis Garcia Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball|publisher=MiLB.com|access-date=February 20, 2018}} The Giants added him to their 40-man roster after the 2017 season.{{cite web|last=Schulman |first=Henry |url=http://www.sfgate.com/giants/article/Giants-add-Beede-three-others-to-40-man-roster-12372947.php |title=Giants add Beede, three others to 40-man roster; A's DFA Brugman |publisher=SFGate |date=November 20, 2017 |access-date=August 25, 2018}}

In 2018, Garcia played 80 games for Richmond, and then was promoted to the Sacramento River Cats of the Triple–A Pacific Coast League.

==Major leagues (2018–2019)==

With Buster Posey undergoing season-ending surgery, the Giants promoted Garcia to the major leagues on August 26.{{cite web|last=Haft |first=Chris |url=https://www.mlb.com/giants/news/aramis-garcia-to-fill-buster-posey-roster-spot/c-291904458 |title=Aramis Garcia to fill Buster Posey roster spot | San Francisco Giants |work=Mlb.com |date=May 24, 2018 |access-date=August 25, 2018}} He played his first game on August 31, and hit a home run in his debut.{{cite web|first=Jacob|last=Hutchinson|url=http://www.knbr.com/2018/08/31/suarez-shines-again-garcia-and-shaw-provide-run-support-in-debut-win-over-mets/|title=Suarez shines again, Garcia and Shaw provide run support in debut win over Mets|date=August 31, 2018|access-date=September 2, 2018}}

He played in the 2019 season with Triple–A Sacramento, batting .271/.343/.488 with 16 home runs and 55 RBI in 332 at bats. He also played 18 games for the Giants, hitting .143/.217/.310 with 2 home runs and 5 RBI. Garcia did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web|title=2020 Minor League Baseball season cancelled|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/2020-minor-league-baseball-season-canceled|access-date=June 29, 2023|website=mlb.com|language=en}} On November 20, 2020, Garcia was designated for assignment.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/11/giants-designate-chris-shaw-aramis-garcia-jordan-humphreys.html|title=Giants Designate Chris Shaw, Aramis Garcia, Jordan Humphreys|date=November 20, 2020 }}

=Oakland Athletics (2021)=

On November 25, 2020, the Texas Rangers claimed Garcia off of waivers.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/11/rangers-claim-aramis-garcia-waivers-giants.html|title = Rangers Claim Aramis Garcia from Giants| date=November 25, 2020 }} On February 6, 2021, the Rangers traded Garcia and Elvis Andrus to the Oakland Athletics in exchange for Khris Davis, Jonah Heim, and Dane Acker.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/02/rangers-to-acquire-khris-davis-from-as-for-elvis-andrus.html|title=Rangers to Acquire Khris Davis from A's for Elvis Andrus|date=February 6, 2021 }} Garcia hit .205/.239/.318 in 32 games for the Athletics before he was designated for assignment on September 20, 2021.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2021/09/20/after-suffering-facial-fracture-surgery-as-chris-bassitt-could-be-activated-sometime-this-week/|title = A's Chris Bassitt could be activated this week after facial surgery|date = September 21, 2021}} Garcia was released by Oakland on September 22.

=Cincinnati Reds (2022)=

On November 29, 2021, Garcia signed a minor league contract with the Cincinnati Reds.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/11/reds-sign-aramis-garcia.html|title = Reds Sign Aramis Garcia to Minor League Deal|date = November 29, 2021}} On April 4, 2022, it was announced that he had made the 2022 opening day roster. On July 7, he was placed on the injured list with an elbow injury and a broken left middle finger, and was transferred to the 60-day injured list on August 11.{{Cite web|title=Reds' Aramis Garcia: Shifts to 60-day IL|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/reds-aramis-garcia-shifts-to-60-day-il/amp/|access-date=2023-05-30|website=cbssports.com|language=en}} Garcia was activated on October 4, with two games remaining in the season.{{Cite web|title=Reds' Aramis Garcia: Activated Tuesday|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/reds-aramis-garcia-activated-tuesday/amp/|access-date=June 28, 2023|website=cbssports.com|language=en}} He appeared in 47 games for Cincinnati, slashing .213/.248/.259 with one home run and 4 RBI.

On October 14, 2022, Garcia was claimed off waivers by the Baltimore Orioles.[https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/10/orioles-designate-louis-head-beau-sulser-claim-aramis-garcia-mark-kolozsvary.html Polishuk, Mark. "Orioles Designate Louis Head, Beau Sulser; Claim Aramis Garcia, Mark Kolozsvary," MLB Trade Rumors, Friday, October 14, 2022.] Retrieved October 14, 2022. On October 30, Garcia was removed from the 40-man roster and sent outright to the Triple–A Norfolk Tides.{{Cite web|title=Orioles' Aramis Garcia: Falls off 40-man roster|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/orioles-aramis-garcia-falls-off-40-man-roster/|access-date=June 29, 2023|website=cbssports.com|date=October 30, 2022 |language=en}} On November 1, Garcia elected free agency in lieu of the outright assignment.{{Cite web|title=Aramis Garcia: Picks free agency|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/aramis-garcia-picks-free-agency/|access-date=June 29, 2023|website=cbssports.com|date=November 4, 2022 |language=en}}

=Philadelphia Phillies=

On February 16, 2023, Garcia signed a minor league contract with the Philadelphia Phillies organization.{{Cite web|title=Phillies' Aramis Garcia: Inks NRI deal with Philly|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/phillies-aramis-garcia-inks-nri-deal-with-philly/amp/|access-date=2023-02-16|website=cbssports.com|language=en}} In 56 games split between the High–A Jersey Shore BlueClaws and Triple–A Lehigh Valley IronPigs, he slashed .243/.284/.505 with 14 home runs and 46 RBI.

Garcia began the 2024 campaign with Lehigh Valley, playing in 74 games and batting .163/.219/.287 with eight home runs, 25 RBI, and six stolen bases. On September 7, 2024, the Phillies selected Garcia's contract, adding him to their active roster.{{Cite web|title=Phillies Announce Four Roster Moves|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/09/phillies-announce-four-roster-moves.html|access-date=September 7, 2024|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}} In 3 games for the Phillies, he went 0–for–7 with 3 strikeouts. Garcia was designated for assignment by Philadelphia on September 15.{{cite news |title=Phillies activate All-Star 3B Alec Bohm from IL |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/41272311/phillies-activate-all-star-3b-alec-bohm-il |access-date=September 16, 2024 |work=ESPN.com |date=September 15, 2024}} He cleared waivers and was sent outright to Lehigh Valley on September 17.{{Cite web|title=Phillies Outright Aramis Garcia|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/09/phillies-outright-aramis-garcia.html|access-date=September 20, 2024|website=mlbtraderumors.com|date=September 17, 2024 |language=en}} Garcia elected free agency on October 15.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/10/eight-players-elect-free-agency.html|title=Eight Players Elect Free Agency|work=MLB Trade Rumors|first=Anthony|last=Franco|date=October 15, 2024|accessdate=October 16, 2024}}

=Arizona Diamondbacks=

On November 15, 2024, Garcia signed a minor league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks.{{Cite web|title=Diamondbacks Sign Aramis Garcia To Minor League Deal|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/11/diamondbacks-sign-aramis-garcia-to-minor-league-deal.html|access-date=November 16, 2024|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}}