Freddy García

Template:Short description Template:About other people Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox baseball biography Freddy Antonio García (born October 6, 1976) is a Venezuelan former professional baseball pitcher. He is best known for his many seasons with seven Major League Baseball (MLB) franchises, including the Seattle Mariners, Chicago White Sox, and New York Yankees. García has also pitched in the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL), Mexican League, and Venezuelan Professional Baseball League.

García's best year was in 2001 in which he led the American League in innings pitched and ERA. He made the All-Star team in 2001 and 2002. He was a member of the 2005 World Series-winning White Sox and started the series-ending Game 4.

Professional career

Seattle Mariners

Originally signed by the Houston Astros as an international free agent in 1993, García was acquired by Seattle in 1998, along with Carlos Guillén and John Halama in the trade that sent Randy Johnson to the Astros.<ref name="AP/ESPN" />

During García's rookie season, he pitched 201 innings, compiling a 17–8 record with 170 strikeouts and a 4.07 ERA in 33 starts. After going 9–5 in his second season, he went on to compile a 45–42 win–loss record over the course of the next three and a half seasons with Seattle. His strongest season was in 2001, when he earned 18 of the Mariners' American League record-setting 116 wins and led the AL with Template:Frac innings pitched and a 3.05 earned run average. He finished third in AL Cy Young Award voting that year.

On June 27, 2004, García and catcher Ben Davis were traded to the Chicago White Sox for Michael Morse, Miguel Olivo, and Jeremy Reed.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> As a Mariner, García had a 76–50 record with a 3.89 ERA and 819 strikeouts.

File:DSC03658 Freddy García.jpg

García with the Chicago White Sox in 2005

Chicago White Sox

García was the starting pitcher in Game 4 of the 2005 World Series for the Chicago White Sox, pitching seven scoreless innings against the Houston Astros. The White Sox won the game and the World Series, completing a four-game sweep.

Before the 2006 season, García tested positive for marijuana during the World Baseball Classic.<ref name="MLB-drugs">Template:Cite news</ref>

In 2006, he surpassed 1,000 strikeouts for his career. In eight post-season games, he was 5–2 with a 3.56 ERA in 48 innings. Also during 2006, on April 29, García recorded his 103rd career win in a game against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, surpassing former White Sox left-hander Wilson Álvarez as the Venezuelan native with the most career wins in Major League history. He finished the season 17–9 with a 4.53 ERA.<ref name="AP/ESPN" /> He was given the nickname "Big Game" while a member of the White Sox.

Philadelphia Phillies

File:Freddy García.jpg

García with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2007

In December 2006, García was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies for prospects Gavin Floyd and Gio González.<ref name="AP/ESPN">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

García experienced a shoulder injury that limited his performance for the first several months of the season.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He was placed on the disabled list (DL) in June, and had shoulder surgery in August.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> García made 11 starts before being placed on the DL and earned one win.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Detroit Tigers

In August 2008, García signed a minor league contract with the Detroit Tigers. In his first 2 minor league starts with the Tigers he pitched 5 innings, gave up no runs, and struck out 5. In his Tigers debut in late September, García, with a limited pitch count, threw 5 scoreless innings to get the win.

New York Mets

In January 2009, García agreed to a minor league deal with the New York Mets.<ref name="DN-Mets">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He was released on April 28, 2009, after two bad starts for the Buffalo Bisons.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Chicago White Sox (second stint)

On June 8, 2009, the Chicago White Sox signed García to a minor league contract.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> García started on August 18 against the Kansas City Royals for the first time with the White Sox since 2006.

In his first game back with the White Sox, García went Template:Fraction innings allowing 5 earned runs in a losing effort. He finished the season with a 3–4 record and a 4.34 ERA.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

On October 5, 2009, the Chicago White Sox exercised their 2010 option on García, a $1 million base salary with $2 million in possible incentives.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He became a free agent following the 2010 season.

New York Yankees

File:Freddy García 2011.jpg

García pitching for the New York Yankees in 2011

On January 31, 2011, García agreed to a minor league contract with the New York Yankees worth $1.5 million.<ref>Yanks, Freddy García agree ESPN</ref> On March 25, 2011, the Yankees announced that García would be in the Yankees' starting rotation.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He finished the 2011 season with a solid 12–8 record and a 3.62 ERA,<ref name=resign>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> however, he was consistently hammered by teams with winning records, most notably the Boston Red Sox. García was on the mound in relief as the Sox won their second game of the season on April 10, as well as 2 other losses on May 15 and June 7. However, García did manage to defeat the Red Sox on September 24.

García also lost his only playoff start in Game 2 as the Yankees were defeated by the Detroit Tigers in the American League Division Series in five games. Despite this, the Yankees offered him a one-year deal worth $4 million with incentives for the 2012 season. The deal became official on December 9.<ref name=resign/><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In 2012, García was expected to challenge for a starting spot with Phil Hughes, A. J. Burnett, Andy Pettitte and Michael Pineda. However, Burnett was traded in the offseason, and Pineda was diagnosed with a shoulder injury, thereby allowing García into the rotation.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

García began the 2012 season with bad footing as he threw 5 wild pitches in his first start against the Baltimore Orioles. He was demoted to the bullpen after going 0–2 in April with a 12.51 ERA, averaging only 3.1 innings per start. David Phelps was moved into the starting rotation.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

García immediately improved once in the bullpen. In his two-month relief stint, he posted a 1.56 ERA in 17.1 innings.<ref name="reference">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> His sinker's speed also improved, from an average of 87.1 mph in April<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> to 88.6 in May/June.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

A fibula injury to Andy Pettitte in late June brought García back into the rotation. Overall, García finished the 2012 season with a 7–6 record and a 5.20 ERA in 30 games appeared (17 started). He became a free agent following the season.

Baltimore Orioles

On January 28, 2013, García signed a minor league deal with the San Diego Padres.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He was released by the Padres on March 24.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He promptly signed a minor league contract with the Baltimore Orioles<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and joined the Triple-A Norfolk Tides. He was called up on May 4 to make his Orioles debut on the road at Anaheim. He was designated for assignment on June 24. Three days later, García signed another minor league contract and returned to Norfolk.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Atlanta Braves

On August 23, 2013, the Orioles traded García to the Atlanta Braves for cash considerations.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He had his contract selected to the major league roster on September 1. García pitched effectively for the Braves, going 1–2 with a 1.65 ERA in September (1–1, 1.83 ERA in 3 starts). He started Game 4 of the NLDS. Although the Braves lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers, García pitched well, giving up 2 runs over 6 innings and was in line for the win when he left the game.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The 2014 postseason would be his last appearance in the majors.

He returned to the Braves on a minor league contract signed January 24, 2014.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He was released on March 24.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

EDA Rhinos

On April 18, 2014, García signed with the EDA Rhinos of the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The seven-month deal included incentives that increased its worth up to $392,000,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and was the most lucrative in CPBL history until Lin Chih-sheng signed a 3-year deal for $1.36 million in January 2016.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In his first game for the Rhinos on May 10, 2014, García pitched six innings of shutout ball on four hits in a no-decision before being pulled after 77 pitches. The Rhinos won the game 5–0 against the Chinatrust Brother Elephants in front of a sellout crowd of more than 12,000.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Olmecas de Tabasco/Los Angeles Dodgers

On February 25, 2015, García signed with the Olmecas de Tabasco of the Mexican League. He made 6 starts throwing 33.1 innings going 1-2 with a 5.67 ERA and 21 strikeouts.

On April 9, 2015, García signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He was assigned to the AAA Oklahoma City Dodgers.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He appeared in four games and made one start for Oklahoma City, allowing seven runs in 7.1 innings and was released on April 21.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Sultanes de Monterrey

He rejoined the Olmecas de Tabasco in June,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> then was traded to the Sultanes de Monterrey. In September García was assigned to the Tigres de Aragua. He spent the rest of 2015 with Aragua, where he won a league championship,<ref name=perezcox>Template:Cite news</ref> and started the first and final games of the 2016 Caribbean Series.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He retired after the series concluded.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 5 starts 35.1 innings he went 3-1 with a 2.55 ERA and 23 strikeouts.

On April 8, 2016, García came out of retirement and signed with the Sultanes de Monterrey of the Mexican League.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He was released on May 3, 2016. In 5 starts 23.1 innings he went 2-0 with a 5.01 ERA and 14 strikeouts.

Leones de Yucatán

On March 5, 2018, García signed with the Leones de Yucatán of the Mexican League.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He was released on April 23, 2018. He made 5 starts throwing 23.2 innings going 2-2 with a 5.32 ERA and 22 strikeouts.

García was eligible to be elected in the Hall of Fame in 2019. He received no votes and became ineligible for the 2020 ballot.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Pitching style

García threw a fastball that topped out in the 90s in his prime and a hard slider. He also threw a two-seam fastball, a curveball, a split-finger fastball and occasionally used a changeup.<ref>Career Stats Fangraphs.com</ref>

García was once a power pitcher,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> but as he got older, García lost velocity on his pitches and compensated by developing a broad repertoire of up to six or seven pitches. In the 2013 season, García threw the following pitches, in order of their use:<ref name="brooks">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• Four-seam fastball — 86–90 mph
• Slider — 78–82 mph
• Curveball — 72–76 mph
• Splitter — 78–82 mph
• Changeup — 80–84 mph
• Sinker — 86–90 mph

García has also adjusted his approach to the strike zone, being especially careful not to leave pitches in the middle of the plate: "He doesn't really have the electric stuff, so he's going to stay on the corners and stay out of the zone."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Personal life

García and his wife married in 2004. They have two children.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

See also

• List of Major League Baseball players from Venezuela

External links

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