Harold Garcia

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Philadelphia Phillies #19 prospect in 2012
  Signed out of Venezuela eight years ago, Garcia spent four years in pro ball before reaching a full-season league. Once he got there in 2009, he quickly starting rising up the ranks of the system. He played on Lakewood's South Atlantic League championship team in 2009 and broke a 59-year-old Florida State League record by hitting in 37 consecutive games in 2010. After retaining him on their 40-man roster, the Phillies expect a breakout season from Garcia in 2011, but he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in his 12th game. He returned to take batting practice and grounders during instructional league and should be fully healthy in 2012. Garcia is a switch-hitter who has proven his ability to barrel the ball. He has solid gap power and sprays the ball to all fields. Before the knee injury, he had average speed and played solid defense at second base, where he has an average arm and decent hands. He has a chance to be an everday player, though he profiles best as a hard-working utilityman with some pop. Now 25, Garcia will have to move quickly and will get that chance from Philadelphia.
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  Ranked Philadelphia Phillies #22 prospect in 2011
  Garcia was in his fourth season as a pro before he reached a full-season league, but he has made much more rapid progress in the last two years. He opened 2010 in high Class A, where he broke a 59-year-old Florida State League record by hitting in 37 consecutive games, and he continued raking after getting promoted. A switch-hitter with average speed, Garcia has proven his ability at the plate. He has solid gap power and sprays the ball to all fields from both sides of the plate. He plays with lots of energy and takes the game seriously, and the Phillies say he's the best worker in the system. Garcia is a solid defender at second base, with an average arm and decent hands, and he has the athleticism to play several other positions. Philadelphia played him at every position but pitcher, catcher and center field during instructional league. Second base will be his primary position, giving him the best shot of being an everyday player, but more realistically he profiles as a utilityman with good pop. Slated to open 2011 in Double-A after claiming a spot on the 40-man roster, Garcia could help the major league team soon.