Avisail Garcia

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Detroit Tigers #2 prospect in 2013
  Signed for $200,000 out of Venezuela, Garcia developed slowly in his first four pro seasons before taking off in 2012, when he moved from high Class A Lakeland to the majors. He made the Tigers' postseason roster, starting against lefthanded pitchers. Dubbed "Little Miggy" by his teammates for his physical resemblance to Miguel Cabrera, Garcia has a similar stance, set-up and swing to his fellow countryman. He doesn't have Cabrera's upside, but Garcia is loaded with tools and could become an average hitter with above-average power. He cut down on his strikeouts in 2012, but he's overly aggressive at the plate and rarely walks. He has the brute strength to get away with hitting pitchers' pitches and Garcia has a surprising athleticism considering his size. He's an average runner with good instincts who could be a 20-20 threat in the majors. At least an average defender in right field, he played 44 games in center in Double-A and has a strong arm. He'll need to improve his plate discipline, and he has the tools to be a solid regular with all-star potential.
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  Ranked Detroit Tigers #10 prospect in 2012
  Garcia was one of Detroit's top international signings in 2007, receiving a $200,000 bonus. He hit well in the Rookie-level Venezuelan Summer League in his 2008 pro debut, but that was the last time he produced good offensive numbers. The Tigers have pushed him aggressively and he has batted .271/.298/.391 in three seasons in the United States. While scouts haven't come around yet on Garcia's hitting ability, he draws their interest with his big frame and his tools. The ball jumps off his Garcia's bat in batting practice, where he shows above-average raw power, though he does it more with strength than pure bat speed. He showed more usable power in 2011 as he learned to get himself better pitches to hit, but he still has a long ways to go in that area. Garcia has poor pitch recognition and struggles against breaking balls, which will limit his on-base percentage and result in a high strikeout rate. He has the physical ability to be a plus defender in right field, running well for his size and possessing an arm that earns 70 grades on the 20-80 scouting scale. Garcia was born eight days before the Padres' Rymer Liriano, a toolsy outfielder who finally put his offensive game together in low Class A last year. The Tigers hope for a similar breakout for Garcia in 2012, when he would be best served returning to high Class A. They protected him on their 40-man roster in November.
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  Ranked Detroit Tigers #9 prospect in 2011
  Garcia signed out of Venezuela as a 16-year-old for $200,000. He made his U.S. debut as the youngest regular in the low Class A Midwest League in 2009, and the Tigers decided to have Garcia return to West Michigan last season because of his youth. Still one of the youngest players in the MWL, he improved his numbers across the board and cemented his reputation as one of the toolsiest players in Detroit's system. Garcia passes the eye test at 6-foot-4 and 232 pounds, and he has the tools to match his impressive frame. He's an above-average runner with long, graceful strides and covers a lot of ground in right field. He has the bat speed and strength to be an average hitter with at least average power. Because he's so young, Garcia still has a lot of learning to do. He's a free swinger who needs to improve his pitch recognition and discipline. He has difficulty pulling his hands in on pitches on the inner half of the plate. He makes youthful mistakes with his solid arm and on the basepaths. Garcia will move up to high Class A in 2011, starting the season as one of the Florida State League's few teenagers. He may require a year at each level, but that still would put him in Detroit at age 22.
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  Ranked Detroit Tigers #17 prospect in 2010
  After signing for $200,000 out of Venezuela as a 16-year-old, Garcia spent 2008 in the Rookie-level Venezuelan Summer League. He then made the leap to West Michigan for most of 2009, showing how much the usually conservative Tigers believe in his tools. He looked his age at times last year--both at the plate and in the field--but keeps a level head and loves playing the game. Garcia has a quick swing and good raw power for an 18-year-old. He also has plus speed and arm strength and has no discernible physical shortcoming. He still has a lot to learn in all aspects of the game, however, from plate discipline to basestealing jumps to outfield routes. Garcia has grown taller and added muscle since signing, and he now fits best in right field. He should have enough bat for the position if he can refine his approach. After playing briefly in high Class A last May, he'll return there to start 2010.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked International League #7 prospect in 2013
  A veteran of the 2012 World Series with the Tigers, Garcia suffered a heel contusion in spring training that kept him off Detroit?s Opening Day roster. He returned to the field with Toledo in May, then three months later joined the White Sox as the key prospect piece in the three-team deal that landed Jake Peavy with the Red Sox. Dubbed ?Little Miggy? by his former Tiger teammates for his physical resemblance to Miguel Cabrera, Garcia struggles with pitch recognition, but his bat speed compensates for it. He can drive the ball out of the park to any field, and if his selectivity improves he can hit for a solid average, too. Garcia runs surprisingly well for a man his size, and the White Sox gave him sporadic time in center field in Chicago after the trade. Most scouts see him in right field for the long term, where he?ll have average range and a strong arm. Montoyo dubbed Garcia ?a five tool kid.?
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  Ranked Florida State League #13 prospect in 2012
  FSL managers were struck by how much Garcia looked like Miguel Cabrera, which is both positive and negative. Garcia has excellent power potential, as one would expect from a 6-foot-4, 240-pounder. But the 29-year-old Cabrera didn't look like this when he was 21, which leads to some questions about what Garcia's body will look like when he's nearing 30. Garcia was in the FSL all of 2011, and observers remarked on how much more locked in he appeared this year. He gave away fewer at-bats and wasn't as much of a free swinger. As his approach matures, he shows signs of hitting for average to go with his power. Garcia arm was one of the strongest among FSL outfielders, and he handles right field with no problems. He's an average runner.
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  Ranked Eastern League #11 prospect in 2012
  When Garcia reached the big leagues at the end of August, the most common topic of conversation centered on how much he resembled Tigers star Miguel Cabrera. Though eight years younger than Cabrera, Garcia has virtually the same build, hitting setup and swing as the Triple Crown winner and fellow Venezuelan. While he remains a free swinger, Garcia exhibited offensive growth with more contact and more power in 2012. Scouts all agree his ceiling is high--but so too is the risk associated with his all-or-nothing hitting approach. He seldom sees a pitch he doesn't like, though his brute strength and knack for contact often allow him to get away with hitting pitchers' pitches. Despite his jumbo 6-foot-4 frame, Garcia turns in average run times and played 44 games in center field for the Erie. He's a right fielder all the way at the big league level, and his strong arm and good outfield reads ought to allay concerns about a move to first base or DH.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #74 prospect in 2013

• December, 2012 Scouting Report
  Background: Signed for $200,000 out of Venezuela, Garcia developed slowly in his first four pro seasons before taking off in 2012, when he moved from high Class A Lakeland to the majors. He made the Tigers' postseason roster, starting against lefthanded pitchers. Scouting Report: Dubbed "Little Miggy"by his teammates for his physical resemblance to Miguel Cabrera, Garcia has a similar stance, set-up and swing to his fellow countryman. He doesn't have Cabrera's upside, but Garcia is loaded with tools and could become an average hitter with above-average power. He cut down on his strikeouts in 2012, but he's overly aggressive at the plate and rarely walks. He has the brute strength to get away with hitting pitchers' pitches and Garcia has a surprising athleticism considering his size. He's an average runner with good instincts who could be a 20-20 threat in the majors. At least an average defender in right field, he played 44 games in center in Double-A and has a strong arm. The Future: Garcia's strong showing in the playoffs could give him a leg up on Detroit's right-field job for 2013. He'll need to improve his plate discipline, and he has the tools to be a solid regular with all-star potential.
• December, 2011 Scouting Report
  Background: Garcia was one of Detroit's top international signings in 2007, receiving a $200,000 bonus. He hit well in the Rookie-level Venezuelan Summer League in his 2008 pro debut, but that was the last time he produced good offensive numbers. The Tigers have pushed him aggressively and he has batted .271/.298/.391 in three seasons in the United States. Scouting Report: While scouts haven't come around on Garcia's hitting, he draws their interest with his big frame and his tools. The ball jumps off his bat in batting practice, where he shows above-average raw power, though he does it more with strength than pure bat speed. He showed more usable power in 2011 as he learned to get himself better pitches to hit, but he still has a long ways to go. Garcia struggles against breaking balls, which will limit his on-base percentage and result in a high strikeout rate. He has the physical ability to be a plus defender in right field, running well for his size and possessing an arm that earns 70 grades on the 20-80 scouting scale. The Future: Garcia was born eight days before the Padres' Rymer Liriano, a toolsy outfielder who finally put his offensive game together in low Class A last year. The Tigers hope for a similar breakout for Garcia in 2012, when he would be best served returning to high Class A. They protected him on their 40-man roster in November.