Oliver Garcia
Oliver Garcia
Position: RHP
Height: 6’3”
Weight: 214 lbs
Bats/Throws: R/R
Born: 01/08/1998
Country: Dominican Republic
Signed: International Free Agent, 2016
How Acquired: Minor League Free Agent
Bonus: N/A
40-man Roster: No
Rule 5 Eligible: Yes
Minor League Free Agency: 2023
Options Left: 3
Overview
Garcia wasn’t a prominent signing in 2015, but he filled out after his first year and added velocity, getting up to 92-93 mph. After a move to the bullpen in 2019, he was reaching 95. He also throws a slider and change. He signed in 2016 but didn’t reach full season ball until 2019. Then, between injuries and the pandemic, he threw only 90 innings over the next four years.
2016-18
Garcia spent two years in the DSL, pitching in relief in the first and as a starter in the second. He pitched well in 2016, albeit with a very low K rate. In 2017, he was the team’s best pitcher. The Pirates skipped him over the GCL and sent him to the Appalachian League in 2018. He made ten starts there and had a very rough time, with opponents putting up a robust 298/404/483 line against him. He was shut down in mid-August.
2019-23
The Pirates sent Garcia back to Bristol in 2019 and moved him to the bullpen, where he showed increased velocity and a greatly increased ability to miss bats, mainly in short relief. He put up a 12.9 K/9 in 14 innings, then moved him up quickly, making five appearances for West Virginia and six for Greensboro. He spent so little time at each level that it’s hard to draw many conclusions. He threw only another 14 innings, but pitched well. He didn’t pitch in 2020.
In 2021, Garcia pitched in relief, sometimes as the closer, for Greensboro. The home run park at Greensboro seriously skewed his numbers, as he allowed eight of his ten home runs there. His ERA was 6.58 at home and 2.33 on the road. On the other hand, he walked too many, 5.4 per nine innings, and his K/9 of 8.8 was well below the league average of 10.5. His 2022 season never really got underway, as he went out with an elbow injury after three appearances for Altoona. He did not have Tommy John surgery, but he did miss the rest of the season. Garcia became a free agent after the season, but the Pirates re-signed him for 2023. He had just a decent season for the Curve, pitching in relief and putting up a 4.27 ERA and 1.64 WHIP. He’ll become a free agent again in the fall.
Stats
TRANSACTIONS
October 30, 2015: Signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates as an international free agent.
November 10, 2022: Became a free agent.
December 22, 2022: Signed as a minor league free agent by the Pittsburgh Pirates.