Angel Garcia

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Tampa Bay Rays #18 prospect in 2005
  The Twins have so much minor league talent that they couldn't protect all of their prospects on their 40-man roster during the offseason. Their loss was the Devil Rays' gain, as the Diamondbacks took Garcia with the first pick in the major league Rule 5 draft, then sold him to Tampa Bay for $100,000 on top of the $50,000 draft price. Garcia has pitched just 132 innings since Minnesota drafted him in the fourth round in 2001, missing most of 2003 with elbow problems that required Tommy John surgery. Like many pitchers coming back from that operation, Garcia has regained his velocity before his command. He was pitching at 90-93 mph and touching 94-95 in winter ball in his native Puerto Rico. His changeup rates as major league average but his curveball needs considerable improvement. With his limited repertoire, Garcia would fit best in Tampa Bay this season as a reliever. If he can't stick with the big league club, the Rays would have to place him on waivers and offer him back to the Twins for $25,000 before they could send him to the minors. His long-term promise is considerable enough that Tampa Bay will do what it can to hold onto him.
• 
  Ranked Minnesota Twins #28 prospect in 2003
  Garcia converted from catcher to the mound only months before the 2001 draft, yet he was still regarded as the top pitching prospect in Puerto Rico. His velocity steadily increased leading up to the draft, but after he signed for $310,000 the Twins overhauled his delivery and watched his velocity dip in 2002. It should be to his benefit in the long run. Garcia was hitting 95 mph with his fastball, but he was throwing directly over the top with no deception to hitters and no life on his stuff. He dropped down to a traditional three-quarters arm slot and added movement. He worked around 89-90 mph last year, and Minnesota expected his velocity to creep back into the plus range. His breaking ball has improved and his deceptive changeup--which was taught to him by fellow countryman and former big leaguer Edwin Correa--has the makings of an above-average pitch. Garcia is a work in progress and will be handled with kid gloves during his slow ascent. He might not make his full-season debut until 2004.
• 
  Ranked Minnesota Twins #15 prospect in 2002
  Garcia was regarded as the top pitching prospect in Puerto Rico for last year's draft. The Twins got him in the fourth round, one pick after taking Puerto Rican shortstop Jose Morales. A converted catcher, Garcia didn't begin pitching full time until two months before the draft. He took to the mound rapidly and watched his velocity steadily climb from the upper 80s to the low 90s with explosive, late life. Though his delivery is in the rudimentary stages, he touched 95 after the draft. He took immediately to a deceptive three-finger changeup with good tumbling action, taught to him in Puerto Rico by former big leaguer Edwin Correa. He needs to tighten the rotation on his slurvy breaking ball. Garcia is raw and untested, so the Twins will proceed with caution and bring him along slowly.