MACK - Top 28 Prospects - #20 - RHRP - Saul Garcia

 

The excitement about the Mets' prospect pipeline has been building year over year as the team improves their domestic and international scouting.  Many of the Mets' picks are being discussed throughout baseball, so Mack has boiled it down to the top 28 to give the readers a glimpse into the team's future.  This series will run for 28 days, counting down from #28 to #1.  The entire list can be viewed by clicking "2026 Top 28 Prospects" on the top menu bar.

20.    Saul Garcia

2025 -     A+ Brooklyn:   30-apps, 4-2, 1.85, 1.26, 6-SV, 34-IP, 22-BB, 59-K

 AA Binghamton:          8-apps, 1-0, 1.32, 1.02, 0-SV, 13.2-IP, 6-BB, 17-K

GROK -        

Saul García is a right-handed relief pitcher in the New York Mets minor league system.

 Born on June 11, 2003, in Naguanagua, Venezuela, he stands at 6’0” and weighs 180 lbs. He will play 2026 as a 23/year old

 García signed with the Mets as an international free agent around his 18th birthday and has since emerged as a promising prospect, ranking No. 29 on MLB Pipeline’s Mets Top 30 Prospects list in the 2024-2025 offseason

García is considered a late bloomer who has shown significant growth since signing with the Mets. In 2024, he pitched at High-A Brooklyn, where he demonstrated potential as a multi-inning reliever, though the Mets have plans to potentially stretch him out as a starter. His development has focused heavily on improving his command, as strike-throwing is a key area for growth at the lower levels. Mets director of player development Andrew Christie has highlighted García’s work ethic and potential, noting his connection to the Flores family and their shared dedication to the game.

In 2024, García’s performance included a 3.86 ERA over an unspecified number of innings, with a focus on refining his pitch arsenal and control. While his ultimate role may be in the bullpen due to his current skill set, the Mets are keeping him in a starter’s role for now to maximize his development.

Pitch Repertoire

García’s pitching arsenal consists of three primary pitches, with his fastball and slider being his standout offerings:

Fastball: Described as a “real interesting” pitch, García’s fastball sits in the mid-to-high 90s and is noted for its ability to “get above barrels very well,” indicating good life and deception. This pitch is considered Major League average or better when he’s at his best, making it a key weapon in his arsenal.

Slider: His slider, thrown in the low-80s, features a sweeping break and is also rated as a Major League average pitch. It complements his fastball well, generating swings and misses when executed properly. The slider’s movement and velocity make it a strong secondary pitch.

Changeup: García’s changeup is less developed compared to his fastball and slider. It’s described as a work in progress, but he’s been working to refine it, adding depth to his repertoire as he develops.

Outlook    García’s current profile suggests a future as a high-leverage reliever, though the Mets are still exploring his potential as a starter. His ability to throw strikes consistently will be critical to his progression, as command issues are a common challenge for young pitchers. His fastball-slider combination gives him a solid foundation.

As of 2025, he’s likely to continue climbing the Mets’ minor league ladder, potentially reaching Triple-A Syracuse if he maintains his trajectory.

MACK – I’m a big fan of the reliever no one writes about. I expect Saul to be done with his minor league career by the end of next season and be ready to join the Mets pen come opening day 2027.

 

11-6-2025

Tom Brennan/MM

19. RHP Saul Garcia

Saul here was a hard throwing wild man pre-2025.  Would he harness it in 2025?  YES! 

Still on the wild side, but improving, righty Saul Garcia was 5-2 in AA and High A, with a 1.70 ERA and a .173 BAA.  He walked 28, but fanned 76 in 48 innings, and 6 of 7 in saves.

The 22 year old 6’0, 180 Garcia from Venezuela has fanned 325 in 236 career innings.  The Mets always need pen arms, and he should debut with the Mets some time in 2026, one would think.

 

11-16-25 – John From Albany/MM

RHP Saul Garcia went 5-2 with a 1.70 ERA for Brooklyn and Binghamton in 2025,  He had 76 Ks in 47.2 innings.  In September, Baseball America had him on their list of 10 best performing fastballs in 2025. They noted: "Pitching from a lower release height, Garcia sits 94-96 mph with more than 2500 rpm of spin on average."  If he doesn't get added to the 40-Man or the Syracuse Roster to keep him out of the minor league portion, there is a good chance he will be selected.

 

12-2-2025

Steve Sica/MM

RHP Saul García:

When looking at the entire Met system in 2025, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better season than the one that Saul García put together. Across High-A and Double-A, García made 38 appearances, pitched in 47 innings, and had an ERA of just 1.70. He faced a total of 202 batters and allowed a home run to just three of them. His 1.32 ERA for Binghamton helped the team win its first Eastern League title in over a decade.

This season was a revelation for García, who, up until 2025, had struggled in the Minors since joining the Mets system in 2021. However, this year, the Mets opted to use him as a reliever instead of a starter, and the experiment couldn’t have gone better. The Mets left him unprotected in next week’s draft, and now will have to wait and see if García’s turnaround continues in their organization, or if they will have to watch his next chapter on another franchise.

 

12-2-2025

Ernest Dove      @ernestdove

My ongoing concern is losing RP Saul Garcia. I continue to see him as a Dedniel Nunez/Jerrys Familia type pen arm at his best. Command is the obvious concern.

 

1-17-2026

MACK/MM

Saul Garcia – a recent addition to the 40, I expect Garcia to mirror Lambert and be a mainstay at Syracuse in 2026, the difference being they should not give him a promotion at any time in 2026 to Queens. 2027 is the year of Garcia.