The Tigers have claimed infielder Luis García off waivers from the Phillies, according to announcements from both teams. Garcia has been optioned to Double-A Erie. The Tigers already had a vacancy on their 40-man roster after designating Michael Pineda for assignment on Sunday.
Garcia, not to be confused with the Luis García of the Nationals or the Luis García of the Padres or the Luis Garcia of the Astros, is a 21-year-old infielder who had spent his entire career in the Phillies’ organization up until now.
He made his professional debut in rookie ball in 2018, just 17 years old at that time. He hit a tremendous .369/.433/.488 in 43 games, showing enough promise to crack Baseball America’s list of the top 100 prospects in the sport. BA placed him #88 going into 2019. However, García struggled immensely in A-ball that year, hitting .186/.261/.255 and losing his spot on BA’s list.
After the minor leagues were canceled by the pandemic in 2020, he had a bit of a bounceback in 2021, hitting .243/.353/.414 between A-ball and High-A, walking in 13.8% of his plate appearances and stealing 15 bases. That was enough for the Phillies to add him to their 40-man roster in November, protecting him from the Rule 5 draft that ended up getting canceled by the lockout.
Unfortunately, it’s been another downturn here in 2022, with García hitting .167/.316/.253 across four different levels on the year. Based on that poor showing, he lost his roster spot on the weekend, now landing with the Tigers, who are likely intrigued by García’s approach. Despite his poor batted ball results, he’s still walking in 15.6% of his plate appearances this season. For reference, the MLB average is 8.2% this year, meaning García is nearly doubling that pace. Struggles aside, he still came in #16 on BA’s most recent update of top 30 Philly prospects. Their report notes that he’s a plus defender at shortstop, meaning that he could be a valuable piece so long as his bat improves.
For the Tigers, this is a no-cost way of adding to their system, picking up a prospect who’s definitely lost some shine in recent years but still has some intriguing tools. Since they are well out of contention, they can use their open roster spot to take a flier on García and hope that he can help them down the line.
Not sure I get this, but I guess he’s a scratch-off lottery ticket that you either cash in on or throw away. Maybe they think he could pass through waivers a second time and remain on the roster, but wouldn’t he then be a minor league free agent after the end of the season? So back to the beginning….not sure I see the point.
I feel the same about the Angels acquisition of Mikey Moniak, Moniak was a much more hyped lottery ticket, though. Moniak has to be the biggest swing and miss by any scouting department in the last decade or two.
Someone must see an opportunity for Yanks and Dodgers to get better if they won the claim.
Even if I don’t speak English, I’ve got to know that 99% of professional sports landing spots have no chance of being winners.
A prospect at who tore up DIII baseball and now at American Association Sioux Falls got a two-week taste in the Padres desert didn’t seem to get a fair chance with “next-level” guys who had fart-in-a-wind chances.
Better for me to cheer t-ball kids at the park.
Do any of them have middle initials?
Heck of a good question
meet my brother Luis, and my other brother Luis, and my other brother Luis…..
And this is my other Brother Darrel..
Dear Mr. President, there are too many Luis Garcias nowadays. Please eliminate three. I am not a crackpot.
.5 A player.
“Infieler”
They easy fixed it, don’t mind this comment.
This is a bit of a surprise, considering Garcia is still ranked at top 15 prospect and is only 21 years old. To give him up on waivers vs a trade is a bit of a head scratcher.
Wow, you’re right! Now the waiver claim makes at least a little sense, or perhaps it is a sign of a bereft minor league system in Philly.
Dude stinks. No reason he should be in our 30, bereft or not.
Tigers now have 2 Luis Garcias plus they have Wilmer Flores, the brother of Wilmer Flores. Next up they’ll draft George Foreman’s grandsons George, George and George.
Maybe we could find another Miguel Cabrera
“Did I ever tell you that Mrs. McCave
Had twenty-three sons and she named them all Dave?”
— Dr. Seuss
More potential to be part of the tigers future than Pineda at least. Might as well take a look.
A no-risk move for the Tigers. They can get a read on him, get him some time, see if there is anything there to work with. There will be some turnover on the Tigers roster this off season. that should provide them with a chance to at least keep him through next spring and get a longer look at him.
He hits .167. He’ll fit right in.
Yeah, maybe he can learn to hit from Torkelson and Baez. That aught a help.
I like this move, considering the organization’s circumstances. You know, why not?
I’m going to name my next son Luis García just to add to the Luis García name pool
If this lottery ticket was a pitcher, I’d be optimistic that the Tigers saw something they think they can fix. Since its not, I have zero faith that something will come of this pick-up. Tigers hitting instruction does more harm than good. It’s an organization-wide problem.
Of all the guys to hit the waiver wire this year, the Tigers select this guy?!
Well, the Tigers should have an abundance or roster spots open when the New GM
“brooms out” some of the minor league players that clearly are not making it.
Come to think of it, that could apply to 1/3 or 1/2 of their current major league roster.
The New GM won’t have to hang onto guys just because he drafted them or traded for them to justify his brilliance.
(Jacoby Jones and a many others come to mind that were clogging up the Tigers roster for years) The process has already started.
And, the Tigers desperately need better hitting coaches in the majors and the minors.
Robbie Grossman goes to the Braves for a bag of balls and suddenly he is hitting in his prime again?!
There was something seriously wrong with the Tigers drafting, trading, player development under former GM Al Avila.
If you are picking up DFAs from the Phillies, then that is not a good sign. The Phillies top pitching prospects are great. The Phillies bottom end prospects, not so great.
The Tigers should be all over DFAs from the Rays, Blue Jays, Orioles, Astros, Dodgers, Cardinals, Braves, Mets etc…many teams that are running out of roster spots to hide quality young players.
Not as much with the Phillies since most of their best young players are already on the Phillies.
Robbie came back to earth. Unfortunately, he’s playing 2022 ball again.
My biggest gripe is the draft. They need to pick the best available w/ every single selection. Let the chips fall where the may- come signing time.
I really don’t think this is a bad get. Let him play for the remainder of the season in the farm, evaluate & then decide he’s only 21. Nothing to lose, and a potential opportunity
Robbie is much more like his former self, even still. Yes, he has had a few 0-fers lately, but he’s still getting on base with his walks.
*Oprah voice*
YOU get a Luis Garcia, and YOU get a Luis Garcia, and YOU…
How many Max Muncies are there?
At least 2 we know of…Same goes for Will Smith’s.
Will Smith used to be a man. /s/ Dave Chappel
Everyone hates will smith next up on the BT.
Wasn’t he the hero of the Indiana basketball team that lost to Hickory?
For the last roster spot..?
Maybe the new GM & the eventual new additions to the organization will help him. The Tigers need to change their development of hitters since they rarely hit on one. Their hitting woes is definitely a drafting and developing issue.