Jose Garcia

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Miami Marlins #12 prospect in 2007
  Garcia continued to gain momentum for the second straight year after opening his career with three seasons in the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League. He was the only Marlins farmhand selected to the Futures Game--where he gave up a two-run homer to the Royals' Billy Butler--and he saw action at four different levels, including a September callup to the majors. His fastball sits at 88-90 mph and touches 92 mph. He has an advanced feel for pitching, knows how to change speeds and eye levels and shows the makings of four plus pitches. His swing-and-miss changeup has good action and might be the best in the system. His slider is ahead of his curve. He learned how to keep hitters honest by coming inside more with his fastball. He's a good fielder and holds runners well. Popular with teammates, Garcia has an easygoing personality, good energy and enjoys being on the mound, where he works fast and aggressively. His smallish frame could land him in the bullpen down the road, but his wide repertoire should keep him in a starting role for now. He'll open the season in the Triple-A rotation.
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  Ranked Miami Marlins #25 prospect in 2006
  After spending his first three pro seasons in the Dominican Summer League, Garcia came to the United States and his career picked up steam in 2005. Though undersized, he makes up for it with a good feel for pitching and a strong mound presence. His fastball sits at 90- 93 mph and tops out at 95. He shows a solid changeup for his experience level, and has the potential for a plus slider. Some see a little bit of Pedro Martinez in him, though they are careful not to predict the same Cooperstown track. Through four seasons, Garcia has shown the ability to command the strike zone, striking out six batters for every one he's walked. Popular with teammates, he has an easygoing personality, good energy and an apparent love for being on the mound. He figures to return to low Class A, where he should be part of a prospect-laden rotation that includes 2005 draftees Chris Volstad, Aaron Thompson and Ryan Tucker. In the long term, Garcia could wind up in the bullpen as a durable set-up man.