Onelki Garcia

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Chicago White Sox #27 prospect in 2015
  Garcia shook up the 2011 draft, as the Cuban defector was made eligible for two days before Major League Baseball declared him ineligible again. He was back in the 2012 draft, and the Dodgers took him and signed him for $382,000. The physical lefthander finished his first full pro season in the majors with a September callup. It was a lost year in 2014, though, as he had setbacks from offseason left elbow surgery and then had left knee surgery in January 2014 to repair torn cartilage. The Dodgers tried to sneak him off their 40-man roster in November, and the White Sox claimed Garcia on waivers. At his best, Garcia shows a 93-95 mph fastball, touching 97, with below-average control. He has a power low-80s slider. Throwing strikes and staying healthy would make Garcia a useful lefty option in the White Sox's 2015 bullpen.
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  Ranked Los Angeles Dodgers #9 prospect in 2014
  Garcia was one of the better young pitchers in Cuba when he left the island in January 2011. Less than 48 hours before the 2011 draft, MLB informed clubs that Garcia was draft eligible. Minutes before the draft, MLB changed its mind and eventually put him in the 2012 draft. Garcia stayed in shape by pitching in a Los Angeles-area adult league before the Dodgers popped him in the third round. He spent most of 2013 at Double-A Chattanooga after being slowed in the spring by knee issues, but after an August promotion to Triple-A, he made his major league debut in September. Garcia's best role is in the bullpen, where he spent the majority of 2013. His fastball sits at 92-94 mph with armside sink and touches 97, with deception that makes the pitch get on hitters quickly. He throws an above-average curveball with tight spin and good depth. He has a slider and a rudimentary changeup, but he's mostly a two-pitch guy out of the bullpen. Garcia's control is below-average, so he has to learn to command his fastball down in the zone and early in the count in order to get to his curveball to put hitters away. Garcia had arthroscopic surgery to clean out his left elbow and remove a bone spur in November. He could be ready to pitch by Opening Day, but the procedure clouds his status to start the year. He should be a solid reliever and the No. 2 lefty in the bullpen behind Paco Rodriguez.
• 
  Ranked Los Angeles Dodgers #7 prospect in 2013
  After Garcia defected from Cuba in January 2011, MLB originally decided he would have to enter the draft rather than making him a free agent. Los Angeles considered taking him with the first-round pick it eventually spent on Chris Reed, until MLB tabled Garcia's case and made him wait a year. The Dodgers stayed on him throughout, watching him pitch winter ball in Puerto Rico and in a local adult league, before taking him in the third round last June and signing him for $382,000. Garcia has two above-average pitches in his fastball and curveball. He sits in the low 90s with running action on his heater, and he touched 97 mph during his pro debut. His 12-to-6 curve is even tougher to square up, featuring good rotation and depth. He also throws a slider/cutter and a changeup, though those two pitches aren't as advanced. Garcia arrived with a good delivery and arm action to go with his strong, athletic build. The Dodgers like his makeup as much as his stuff. Garcia struck out seven over three no-hit innings in a Double-A playoff game in September. He's 23 and certainly could reach the majors quickly, though he's expected to begin his first full season back in Chattanooga.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #83 prospect in 2012 draft
  Garcia left Cuba in January 2011 and expected to be declared a free agent like most other defectors. Instead, Major League Baseball put him into last year's draft, then withdrew him two days later and reviewed his case. In January 2012, Garcia once again was declared draft-eligible. In the meantime, he tried to stay in shape, often working out at Pierce JC in Los Angeles, near where Gus Dominguez, the former agent who represents him, lives. Garcia pitched in the Puerto Rican League last winter as well with some success, and in Puerto Rico and in the spring adult league he plays in, he has shown two plus pitches. Garcia's fastball sits at 90-93 mph, and his curveball, while somewhat inconsistent, is a true power pitch at its best. Garcia hasn't shown much of a changeup. Garcia has a physical 6-foot-2, 220-pound frame that needs no projection. At 22, he could move through a minor league system quickly as long as he comes out of the gate throwing strikes.

• December, 2012 Scouting Report
  Background: After Garcia defected from Cuba in January 2011, MLB decided he would have to enter the draft rather than decreeing him a free agent. Los Angeles considered taking him with the first-round pick it used to draft Chris Reed, until MLB tabled Garcia's case and made him wait a year. The Dodgers stayed on him throughout, watching him pitch winter ball in Puerto Rico and in a local adult league, before taking him in the third round last June and signing him for $382,000. Scouting Report: Garcia has two above-average pitches in his fastball and curveball. He sits in the low 90s with running action on his heater, and he touched 97 mph during his pro debut. His 12-to-6 curve is even tougher to square up, featuring good rotation and depth. He also throws a slider/cutter and a changeup, though those two pitches aren't as advanced. Garcia arrived with a good delivery and arm action to go with his strong, athletic build. The Dodgers like his makeup as much as his stuff. The Future: Garcia struck out seven over three no-hit innings in a Double-A playoff game in September, looking like he could have pitched in the big leagues that day. He's 23 and certainly could reach the majors quickly, though he's expected to begin his first full season back in Chattanooga.