20-yr-old RHP Saul Garcia was originally signed by Mets in June 2021 and pitched briefly in the Dominican Summer League (6 inn, 11 K) that season. Then in 2022 Garcia moved stateside making 14 appearances, mostly in a relief role with Florida Complex League Mets pitching 31 innings with 46 K.
During this current 2023 MiLB season the Mets organization made a decision to transition Garcia full time into the Low A affiliate St. Lucie Mets rotation and he has been making strides ever since. With his most recent start being perhaps his best outing as a professional (6 inn, 1 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 9 K). I gained additional insight on the young righty in talking with those within the Mets organization.
I’m told RHP Saul Garcia is a “very talented arm” with “real stuff” who earned a spot in rotation due to his pure stuff and ability. Garcia creates ride from a lower arm slot which makes for a very lethal combo from one’s pitching arsenal. His fastball sits in the 92-96 MPH range with ability to top 97 at times as he’s done during the 2023 season. He is at this point in his development more of a FB/SL heavy arm, with his slider sitting in the 79-83 MPH range. He is capable of mixing in a changeup which has shown flashes but is not currently part of a regular assortment of his pitches in-games.
As can be said about many young pitchers (Garcia only just turned 20 in June) his ongoing player development and progress includes season long work on consistency, command and control. “Batters don’t like to face him” and it shows in his season totals in 2023 in which he has pitched a total 66.2 innings as of this writing with 95 strikeouts with opponents hitting .198 against him.
I’m also told Saul Garcia is a “phenomenal human being, hard working, great teammate. Someone “easy to root for”. This sounds like a young man I will definitely continue rooting for.
12 comments:
Nice take on Saul Garcia, Ernest. I hope he gets a cup of coffee with Brooklyn before 2023 ends. His 5-8 record is not bad, considering St Lucie’s poor win record, either.
An interesting side note: 18 year old 6’7” righty Franyel Diaz has been pitching well in the DSL this summer.
Yesterday, he played right field. 0 for 4 and a walk in his hitting debut. Will he be a two-way guy? Time will tell.
Morning Dove-mon
Interesting. Thought Garcia was older than this.
Another solid maybe.
Any word on that starter shutdown in Binghamton?
LOTTERY PICK UPDATE
The Mets sweep of STL has vaulted them into the solid 1.4 position however the Pirates and Tigers have been willing a lot lately and the Mets are still only one game behind in the race for
1.6
PIT. ---
DET. 1/2
METS. 1
Break up the Mets! Mack so how many more wins to make the playoffs?
You gotta believe!
6 games out of wild card
But 3 other teams ahead of them
RP BRENDAN HARDY to Binghamton
No way im touching the New York Mets win streak lol. they are beating the Pirates and Cardinals.
A win be a win!
Thank you Ernest for this writeup. Great reading and very informative.
Thanks Ernest soy Antonio García Papá de Saúl
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