Gabriel Garcia

[Madhawk23]

Can someone more in the know tell me about this Gabriel Garcia kid? Looks to be mashing in the AZL Rookie league as an 18 year old. Is this kid a legit prospect or is he just having some beginners luck?

[Mass Haas]

14th round pick, born in Puerto Rico, not sure when he first came stateside, but he entered Broward (FL) Community College as a 17-year-old freshman, turned 18 in December, was a young 18 when he put up these numbers in the spring.

 

His school's press release upon being drafted --

 

Garcia, a second team All-Southern Conference selection, started 49 of 52 games played and batted .263 (46 for 175) with 32 runs, 12 doubles, three triples, 10 home runs, 36 runs batted in, 31 walks, five hit-by-pitches and one sacrifice fly to post a .537 slugging percentage and a .387 on-base percentage. He led the Seahawks in home runs, slugging percentage and triples (three). According to the latest NJCAA Region 8 statistics (June 13), Garcia is ninth in home runs and 47th in runs batted in.

 

Just prior to the draft, Garcia was in the midst of playing in the wood bat Valley Baseball League, one of the many national collegiate summer leagues, for the Waynesboro Generals in Virginia. He was red-hot as of draft day June 10th --

 

The hitter of the day is Winchester’s Gabriel Garcia, from Broward. The young man from Coamo, Puerto Rico went 3-4, with a run, 4 RBIs, a double, and a home run. He’s now 12-24 in the young Valley League season; he has a hit in all six Royals games. At Broward, he hit 263/387/537, and was named 2nd Team All-Conference.

 

In short, nice scouting, and a 1.145 OPS after his first 16 pro games.