Greg Garcia (baseball)

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name=Greg Garcia

|image=16825 cardinalgreg garcia.jpg

|width=240

|caption=Garcia with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2016

|team=

|number=

|position=Infielder

|bats=Left

|throws=Right

|birth_date={{birth date and age|1989|8|8}}

|birth_place=El Cajon, California, U.S.

|debutleague=MLB

|debutdate=April 28

|debutyear=2014

|debutteam=St. Louis Cardinals

|finalleague=MLB

|finaldate=September 27

|finalyear=2020

|finalteam=San Diego Padres

|statleague=MLB

|stat1label=Batting average

|stat1value=.245

|stat2label=Home runs

|stat2value=14

|stat3label=Runs batted in

|stat3value=99

|teams=

St. Louis Cardinals ({{mlby|2014}}–{{mlby|2018}})
San Diego Padres ({{mlby|2019}}–{{mlby|2020}})

}}

Greg Joseph Garcia (born August 8, 1989) is an American former professional baseball infielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the St. Louis Cardinals and San Diego Padres.{{Cite web |last=Spiering |first=Chris |date=December 3, 2020 |orig-date=December 3, 2020 |title=Padres non-tender infielder Greg Garcia - Page 2 of 2 |url=https://eastvillagetimes.com/padres-non-tender-infielder-greg-garcia/2/#google_vignette |access-date=December 29, 2024 |website=East Village Times |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Ramirez |first=Fernando |last2=Tripp • • |first2=Darnay |date=October 31, 2024 |title=On Friar Podcast: Greg Garcia on Dodgers' Win, Mike Shildt and Padres' Outlook |url=https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/sports/on-friar-podcast-greg-garcia-on-dodgers-win-mike-shildt-and-padres-outlook/3664243/ |access-date=December 29, 2024 |website=NBC 7 San Diego |language=en-US}}

Early life

Garcia was born in El Cajon, California, and grew up a San Diego Padres fan.{{Cite web |url=https://www.lockedonstlcardinals.com/stl-cardinals/todays-cardinals-were-yesterdays-fans-and-they-had-players-they-disliked-too/ |title=Today's Cardinals were yesterday's fans – and they had players they disliked too |access-date=2018-07-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180702011045/https://www.lockedonstlcardinals.com/stl-cardinals/todays-cardinals-were-yesterdays-fans-and-they-had-players-they-disliked-too/ |archive-date=2018-07-02 |url-status=dead }} He is a grandson of former MLB manager Dave Garcia.{{cite web |url=http://stlcardinals.scout.com/a.z?s=321&p=8&c=1&nid=7717008 |title=Greg Garcia profile |publisher=Scout.com |access-date=July 13, 2014}} His brother, Drew Garcia, is a former professional baseball player.[http://www.espn.com/blog/st-louis-cardinals/post/_/id/1690/greg-garcia-qa-fathers-day-through-the-eyes-of-a-third-generation-baseball-player A Father's Day through eyes of a third-generation player Greg Garcia - St Louis Cardinals- ESPN]

Amateur career

Garcia graduated from Valhalla High School. In 2009, Garcia played for the Newport Gulls of the New England Collegiate Baseball League.

Attending the University of Hawaii at Manoa, Garcia led the team in 2010 with a .358 batting average. After being named to the second team Western Athletic Conference (WAC) in both of his first two seasons at UH, he drew a first team all-WAC selection in 2010. Garcia was teammates with future Cardinal teammate Kolten Wong at the University of Hawaii in 2009 and 2010.

Professional career

=St. Louis Cardinals=

==2010–13==

The Cardinals selected Garcia in the seventh round of the 2010 MLB draft from Hawaii.{{cite web |last=Leach |first=Matthew |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/print.jsp?ymd=20100615&content_id=11210740¬ebook_id=11210744&vkey=notebook_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb |title=Cardinals sign 33 draft picks |website=MLB.com |date= |access-date=November 22, 2013}} With the Rookie-level Johnson City Cardinals in 2010, Garcia batted .286 with a .363 on-base percentage (OBP), four HR, 15 doubles and 24 RBI in 58 games. He batted .283/.384/.392 combined with the Class A Quad Cities River Bandits and Class A-Advanced Palm Beach Cardinals in 105 games in 2011.{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=garcia001gre |title=Greg Garcia minor league statistics & history |website=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=July 13, 2014}} He was a Midwest League All-Star selection that season.

In a full season with the AA Springfield Cardinals in 2012, he batted .284/.408/.420, with 20 doubles, three 3B, 10 HR, 10 SB, 80 BB in 124 games and 504 plate appearances (PA). He spent the next two seasons with the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds of the Pacific Coast League (PCL), batting .271/.377/.384 in 116 games in 2013, and .272/.358/.382 in 106 games in 2014. The franchise selected him as their player of the month for August 2013. The club added Garcia to its 40-man roster after the 2013 season.{{cite web |author=Cardinals Press Release |url=http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20131120&content_id=64078004&vkey=pr_stl&c_id=stl |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203010243/http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20131120&content_id=64078004&vkey=pr_stl&c_id=stl |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 3, 2013 |title=Cardinals add three to 40-man roster |publisher=Stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com |date=November 20, 2013 |access-date=November 22, 2013}}

==2014–15==

The Cardinals promoted Garcia to the major leagues on April 28, 2014.{{cite news |last=Weurz |first=Scott |url=http://www.bnd.com/2014/04/27/3181938/st-louis-cardinals-call-up-randal.html |title=St. Louis Cardinals call up Grichuk, Garcia; demote Wong, Robinson |newspaper=Belleville News-Democrat |date=April 27, 2014 |access-date=May 1, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140429045943/http://www.bnd.com/2014/04/27/3181938/st-louis-cardinals-call-up-randal.html |archive-date=April 29, 2014 |url-status=dead }} His first career run batted in came on a walk-off hit by pitch while pinch hitting with the bases loaded in the 12th inning of a 4–3 win over the Chicago Cubs at Busch Stadium on May 13.[http://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/cardinal-beat/cards-win-in-on-walk-off-hit-batter/article_97dc059c-99bb-52e6-ab6f-463cbaa81998.html Timmermann, Tom. "Cards win in 12 on walk-off hit batter," St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Tuesday, May 13, 2014.] After about two weeks with the team, the Cardinals optioned him back to Memphis.{{cite web |last=Langosch |first=Jenifer |url=http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/news/article/stl/st-louis-cardinals-recall-kolten-wong-option-greg-garcia?ymd=20140514&content_id=75459732&vkey=news_stl |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140626051228/http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/news/article/stl/st-louis-cardinals-recall-kolten-wong-option-greg-garcia?ymd=20140514&content_id=75459732&vkey=news_stl |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 26, 2014 |title=Wong rejoins Cardinals; G. Garcia sent to Memphis |publisher=stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com |date=May 14, 2014 |access-date=July 13, 2014}} Garcia was recalled to St. Louis on August 19, after an injury to Mark Ellis,{{cite web |last=Langosch |first=Jenifer |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20140819&content_id=90392452¬ebook_id=90392122&vkey=notebook_stl&c_id=stl |title=Ellis placed on DL; Cards call up infielder Garcia |website=m.cardinals.mlb.com |date=August 19, 2014 |access-date=August 19, 2014}} and was optioned back to AA on August 25.{{cite web |url=https://twitter.com/Cardinals/status/503946734889086976 |title=St. Louis Cardinals on Twitter: #STLCards have recalled LHP Tyler Lyons from Memphis (AAA) & optioned INF Greg Garcia to Springfield (AA), giving Cards 4 lefties in pen |website=Twitter |date=August 25, 2014}} For the 2014 season with St. Louis, Garcia batted .143/.333/.214 with no home runs and one RBI in 14 at bats.[https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/garcigr01.shtml Greg Garcia Stats | Baseball-Reference.com]

Beginning the next season with Memphis, Garcia batted .361 in May, including 11 multihit games. That month, he also amassed four doubles, 12 RBI and five stolen bases, and reached base in 23 of 27 games for a .421 on-base percentage. His batting average ranked 10th-best in the PCL, and Garcia was named the St. Louis Cardinals organization Player of the Month.{{cite web |author=St. Louis Cardinals Press Release |url=http://www.scout.com/mlb/cardinals/story/1552269-cards-name-garcia-perdomo-top-players-in-may |title=Cards Name Garcia, Perdomo Top Players in May |publisher=Scout.com |date=June 4, 2015 |access-date=June 26, 2015}} His totals for Memphis until the time of his major league call-up included a .313 average, 25 RBI and 31 BB. Garcia made his 2015 season debut in the major leagues on June 19 against the Philadelphia Phillies. Garcia's first major league home run was on June 26 in the eighth inning against Pedro Strop of the Chicago Cubs, tying the score in an extra inning, eventual 4–3 Cardinals win. It was his first home run in 294 major and minor league at bats.{{cite web |last=Thompson |first=Luke |url=http://www.foxsports.com/midwest/story/greg-garcia-s-first-big-league-blast-helps-st-louis-cardinals-rally-past-chicago-cubs-062715?vid=470977603630 |title=Greg Garcia's inaugural big-league blast helps Birds rally past Cubs |publisher=Fox Sports Midwest |date=June 27, 2015 |access-date=June 27, 2015}} For the 2015 season with St. Louis, he batted .240/.337/.387 with two home runs and four RBIs in 75 at bats.

==2016==

File:Ggarcia752017.jpg

The Cardinals opened the 2016 season with Garcia on the major league roster. His first home run of the season, on April 8, became part of a unique event in major league history. Playing the Atlanta Braves, Jeremy Hazelbaker, Aledmys Díaz, and he established a new MLB record by each hitting a pinch hit home run, becoming the first to hit three pinch hit home runs in one game for the same team. The previous record of two pinch hit home runs by the same team in the same game had previously occurred on 57 occasions, most recently in 2011. The Cardinals won this contest, 7–4.{{cite web |last=Langosch |first=Jenifer |url=http://m.cardinals.mlb.com/news/article/171302342/hazelbaker-diaz-and-garcia-set-mlb-record |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160412131420/http://m.cardinals.mlb.com/news/article/171302342/hazelbaker-diaz-and-garcia-set-mlb-record |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 12, 2016 |title=In the Cards: Unlikely pinch-hitters make history |work=MLB.com |date=April 9, 2016 |access-date=April 9, 2016}} The Cardinals optioned Garcia to Memphis on April 18.{{cite web |last=Langosch |first=Jenifer |url=http://m.cardinals.mlb.com/news/article/173048314/cardinals-activate-ruben-tejada-off-dl |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160419155510/http://m.cardinals.mlb.com/news/article/173048314/cardinals-activate-ruben-tejada-off-dl |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 19, 2016 |title=Tejada returns from DL for utility role: Hot-hitting Diaz to remain starting shortstop; G. Garcia sent to Triple-A |publisher=stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com |date=April 18, 2016}} The Cardinals recalled Garcia from Memphis on May 26, where he had batted .269 in 30 games.{{cite web |first1=Jenifer |last1=Langosch |last2=Putterman |first2=Alex |url=http://m.cardinals.mlb.com/news/article/180158062/cardinals-matt-carpenter-away-for-child-birth |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160526095810/http://m.cardinals.mlb.com/news/article/180158062/cardinals-matt-carpenter-away-for-child-birth |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 26, 2016 |title=Carpenter on paternity leave after birth of first child |website=m.cardinals.mlb.com |date=May 26, 2016 |access-date=May 26, 2016}} For the 2016 season with St. Louis, he batted .276/.393/.369 with three home runs and 17 RBIs in 214 at bats. On defense, in 2016 he played 31 games at third base, 30 games at shortstop, and 26 games at second base.

==2017==

Garcia played in a career high 133 games, although he started only 52, and hit .253 with 2 home runs and 20 RBIs in 241 at bats.

==2018==

On April 14, 2018, Garcia homered twice in a 6−1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds for his first multiple home run game in the major leagues. Both home runs came versus left-handed starter Brandon Finnegan, marking the first home runs Garcia hit versus a left-hander in the major leagues. He established another career high with 10 total bases.{{cite news |last=Trezza |first=Joe |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/greg-garcia-slugs-two-homers-in-win-vs-reds/c-272205610 |title=Garcia's 2 HRs, Mikolas' gem pace Cards' win |work=MLB.com |date=April 14, 2018 |access-date=April 14, 2018}} Garcia finished his 2018 campaign batting .221/.309 (a career low)/.304 with three home runs and 15 RBIs in 114 games.{{Cite web |url=https://www.kmov.com/sports/st-louis-cardinals-player-grades-infielders/article_2915bed4-c8d5-11e8-a877-9bde9e3f4fee.html |title=St. Louis Cardinals 2018 player grades: Infielders {{!}} Sports {{!}} kmov.com |access-date=2018-10-10 |archive-date=2018-10-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181011133425/https://www.kmov.com/sports/st-louis-cardinals-player-grades-infielders/article_2915bed4-c8d5-11e8-a877-9bde9e3f4fee.html |url-status=dead }}

=San Diego Padres=

On November 1, 2018, Garcia was claimed off waivers by the San Diego Padres.[https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2018/11/padres-claim-greg-garcia.html Padres Claim Greg Garcia – MLB Trade Rumors] He played in 134 games in 2019, hitting .248/.364/.354 with a career high 4 home runs and 31 runs batted in. In 2020, Garcia appeared in 35 games for San Diego, hitting .200/.279/.250 over 71 plate appearances. On December 2, 2020, Garcia was non-tendered by the Padres.{{cite web | url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/12/national-league-non-tenders-4.html | title=National League Non-Tenders | date=2 December 2020 }}

=Detroit Tigers=

On February 9, 2021, Garcia signed a minor league contract with the Detroit Tigers organization that included an invitation to Spring Training.{{cite web | url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/02/tigers-sign-greg-garcia-infielder.html | title=Tigers Sign Greg Garcia | date=9 February 2021 }} On March 26, 2021, Garcia was granted his release by the Tigers after exercising an opt-out clause in his contract.{{cite web | url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/03/tigers-roster-notes-garcia-catcher.html | title=Tigers Release Greg Garcia | date=26 March 2021 }}

=Philadelphia Phillies=

On April 22, 2021, Garcia signed a minor league contract with the Philadelphia Phillies organization.{{cite web | url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/04/phillies-sign-greg-garcia-to-minor-league-deal.html | title=Phillies Sign Greg Garcia to Minor League Deal | date=22 April 2021 }} On May 3, Garcia triggered the opt-out clause in his contract and was released by the Phillies.{{cite web | url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/05/minor-mlb-transactions-5321.html | title=Minor MLB Transactions: 5/3/21 | date=3 May 2021 }}

Awards

Baseball America Toolbox Award for Pacific Coast League "Best strike zone judgment" (2015){{cite news |last=Goold |first=Derrick |url=http://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/birdland/cards-prospect-reyes-sweeps-tools-triple-crown/article_f54b08b2-e6e9-5e9d-83cb-b41769b3a5bd.html |title=Cards prospect Reyes sweeps 'Tools Triple Crown' |newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |date=August 12, 2015 |access-date=August 12, 2015}}
Midwest League All-Star (2011){{cite web |url=https://www.milb.com/player/greg-garcia-594824 |title=Greg Garcia stats, highlights, bio |publisher=Springfield Cardinals (milb.com) |access-date=June 26, 2015}}
MiLB.com Organizational All-Star (2012)
St. Louis Cardinals organization Player of the Month (May 2015)

Personal life

Garcia married girlfriend Hannah Barnett on November 12, 2016, in St. Joseph, Missouri.{{cite web|url=http://www.newspressnow.com/celebrations/couples/hannah-barnett-and-gregory-garcia/article_1606d446-301e-5ab7-a6d5-f91da652640c.html|title=Hannah Barnett and Gregory Garcia|work=News-PressNow.com|date=23 October 2016 |access-date=December 21, 2017}} Their daughter was born in June 2018.[https://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/cards-add-guilment-to--man-roster-bullpen/article_8fdabaa2-878e-5a25-acc3-a52419df802e.html Promoted to help the bullpen, Guilmet loses in Cardinals debut | St. Louis Cardinals | stltoday.com] They reside in San Diego.{{cite web | url=https://ballparkvibes.com/2020/04/22/behind-the-seams-hannah-garcia/ | title=Behind the Seams: Hannah Garcia | date=22 April 2020 }}