2019 Phillies Prospects Countdown: #10 SS Luis Garcia

Youth and talent are two key things that stand out with Phillies shortstop prospect Luis Garcia.

After the team signed the Dominican Republic native for a reported $2.5 million (second highest international signing in Phils history) in July of 2017, Garcia participated in the Florida Instructional League as a 16-year-old.

He made his official professional debut last season. In the short-season Rookie level Gulf Coast League, the youngster was tops in batting average with a .369 mark and posted a .433 OBP with an impressive .921 OPS. He was also named to the GCL’s post-season All-Star roster.

The five-foot-11 170-pounder was rated by Baseball America as the best prospect in that league last year.

Defensively, Garcia is said to have an accurate, plus arm with quick feet. He fields his position smoothly. At the plate, the switch-hitter displays a mature approach with quick hands that could translate into more power as he ages.

Garcia’s left/right splits are noteworthy, as he posted strong numbers from both sides of the plate in 2018. Facing lefties, he sported a .293/.408/.439 slash line. Against righties, he collected a .372/.437/.494 slash line.

On the bases, Garcia is swift and could be a steady stolen base threat throughout the minors. He swiped 12 bags in 20 chances in the GCL, which isn’t an outstanding success rate, but as he moves up in the minors, he will have more tools at his disposal to improve on that ratio.

Many prospect reviewers think that Garcia could become a blue chipper for the Phillies and will be a prospect name for all fans to know very soon.

It’s not far-fetched to think the Phillies could challenge the 18-year-old with his assignment this year by placing him at full-season Class A Lakewood when the regular season opens in April. They have done it with similarly aged and similarly talented prospects in the past.

Track this year's complete Phillies top prospects countdown by clicking this link.

Comments

Patreon Exclusive: Logan O'Hoppe answers Nine Silly-ass Questions

Logan O'Hoppe, image- Jay Floyd Phillies catching prospect Logan O'Hoppe was the subject of a recent player feature I posted here three days early. When I talked with Logan, he was kind enough to not only chat about some serious baseball related topics, he also had some fun with me and answered Nine Silly-Ass Questions! In this interview, the 20-year-old, who was an All-Star with Class A short-season Williamsport last year, offered his thoughts on his experiences playing in Australia last off-season, super powers, some surprising movies he's never seen, teammate Albertus Barber and plenty more. Read ahead for some excerpts from this Silly-ass interview... -You can 4-for-4 and your team loses, or you can get hit in the groin and your team wins...which do you choose? I mean, if we win, then the whole team has a good night, so I have to go with that one. That really benefits everybody. -Tell me, if you can, four words to describe Albertus Barber . One,...

Rappers in Phillies Caps

Weekend greetings to you phine pholks out there. Today's post features pictures of rappers wearing Phillies caps. Why rappers in Phillies caps, you ask? Because... Any other questions? We will start things off properly by going with a highly recognizable hip hop star. 50 Cent stays constantly relavant by consistantly creating radio friendly material to help sell (G) units, while he "keeps it real" by still rapping about the thug life he lived before becoming the 2nd highest earning black entertainer in America. 50 is seen here in a recent interview rocking a throw-back Phillies cap. Next up we'll use a throw-back screen cap from what may be the very first major appearance by a rapper wearing Phillies gear. Chuck D, of legendary rap group Public Enemy, wore a Phillies cap in the music video for rap anthem Fight The Power in 1989. The song was the lead single from the soundtrack for Spike Lee's film Do The Right Thing . Next up we'll go with some home grown tal...

Is it time to be concerned about Mickey Moniak?

Mickey Moniak with Lakewood in 2017 Almost daily I am engaged via Twitter or email or text messages or in person about Phillies prospects. It comes with the gig. The player that scores the most inquiries is, as should be expected, 2016 top overall draft selection Mickey Moniak . Questions from fans that don't want to seem overly judgmental will ask, “Should we be concerned?” Others, living up to the more stereotypical Philadelphia sports fan reputation, will assert the notion, “He’s a bust! Somebody didn't do his job right!” For the most part I have responded in defense of Moniak and others, letting people know that the youngster’s skills are real and his coaches stand by them. I’d caution fans that he was young, still a teenager, among the five youngest position players in the Class A Advanced Florida State League (per his team the Clearwater Threshers, as of the end of April), and he just needed time to catch up to the older, more mature pitching at that level....

PhoulBallz.com

Search This Blog