Aramis Garcia

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked San Francisco Giants #16 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: The Giants' second-round pick in 2014 out of Florida International, Garcia made his major league debut on Aug. 31. He performed well with the Giants in a brief look, although he had subpar numbers in his first full year at Triple-A before receiving his first big league callup.
  
  Scouting Report: Considered an average to above-average defensive catcher with a plus arm behind the plate, Garcia's future role in the majors rests heavily on his bat. He has plus raw power that should play above-average in games in the major leagues, but his hit tool has never been considered better than average. Garcia struck out nearly 30 percent of the time in Triple-A in 2018, and that rate jumped to nearly 50 percent in limited major league at-bats. Garcia has never shown much patience at the plate, and he has a rather lengthy swing.
  
  The Future: Between Buster Posey and Joey Bart, Garcia seems destined for a long-term backup role in San Francisco. With the weakness at the catcher's position across baseball, however, Garcia could be one of the best 30 big league catchers as soon as 2019, especially if his hit tool takes any slight step forward.
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  Ranked San Francisco Giants #6 prospect in 2018
  Garcia missed two months in 2016 after surgery to repair facial fractures and he missed two more weeks in 2017 with a concussion. Because of those injuries, Garcia spent most of the year repeating high Class A San Jose, but earned a late-season promotion to Double-A Richmond and played in the Arizona Fall League's Fall Stars game. Garcia checks off two catcher boxes with plus raw power potential and a plus arm. He finished second in the Giants system with 17 home runs and he should hit for at-least above-average power if he gets regular big league at-bats. But he's projected as a .230-.240 hitter because of undeveloped plate discipline and concerns about swing length. Defensively, Garcia has some stiffness behind the plate and evaluators are widely split on his receiving, noting his effort level isn't always there. At his best, Garcia shows the ability to be an average defender with a big arm. Garcia has some of the best power in the organization, but if he can't catch, he doesn't have a clear fallback position defensively. His power numbers will likely be sapped by Double-A Richmond, but he is on track to eventually be Buster Posey's backup if he can stay healthy.
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  Ranked San Francisco Giants #9 prospect in 2017
  One of the better hitting catchers available in the 2014 draft, Garcia walked more than he struck out as a Florida International junior and led Conference USA in average (.368) and slugging (.626). He popped 15 home runs at low Class A Augusta in 2015, but his timing never returned in 2016 after he missed two months with a facial fracture that required surgery. He injured himself in a collision at second base as he slid to break up a double play. He then hit just .191 in the Arizona Fall League. Garcia has focused attention on his defense in pro ball as a result of being labeled a bat-first catcher in high school and college. A fringe-average defender with a plus arm, he is more than playable behind the plate. He will rip off above-average pop times of 1.85-1.9 seconds on throws to second base. Garcia's blocking and the smoothness of his receiving is limited by his size and by a little stiffness, but he has worked to improve. But his performance at the plate in 2016 disappointed because he didn't show his trademark power or consistent approach. If he can get back to pre-injury form, Garcia is a .250 hitter with line-drive power and about 10 home run potential. Even in a lost season, Garcia didn't carry his offensive struggles into the field, where he has only improved. He will attempt to rebound in 2017, possibly with a return to San Jose.
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  Ranked San Francisco Giants #7 prospect in 2016
  A 20th-round pick of the Cardinals out of high school, Garcia established himself as one of the best catchers in the 2014 draft when he hit .368/.442/.626 as a Florida International junior. The 2014 second-rounder struggled in his pro debut as he focused on cleaning up his catching mechanics, but he hit 15 home runs and showed improved defense at low Class A Augusta in 2015. The Giants knew that Garcia would need work to adjust to pro ball. He had to get comfortable calling pitches and handling pitchers, but he's shown the aptitude and intelligence to grow into the role. He has made strides in his game-calling and is becoming a more verbal leader behind the plate. He posts average to tick above-average pop times on throws to second base. As a hitter, Garcia has a compact swing that gives him a chance to be an average hitter with average power. In college, he wore out right-center field, but he's pulling the ball much more as a pro--all of his 15 home runs last year were to left field. His swing is quick and direct to the ball, contributing to a solid contact rate. Garcia projects as an offense-first catcher. He will likely return to high Class A San Jose to start 2016.
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  Ranked San Francisco Giants #16 prospect in 2015
  Coming out of high school, Garcia was viewed as a solid-hitting catcher who had work to do defensively. After gaining 25 pounds of good weight at Florida International, he took a significant step forward at the plate. He has a balanced setup, present strength and a line-drive stroke that helped him lead Conference USA in batting average (.368) and slugging (.626) in 2014. The Giants didn't get to see much of that after signing him for $1.1 million, for he struggled in a short debut. Garcia has work to do behind the plate, for he is somewhat mechanical. He needs to clean up his footwork and blocking skills--he allowed six passed balls in seven games in the Rookie-level Arizona League. He turns in average pop times on throws to second base and has the tools to end up being an average defender, but it will require diligent work. Garcia has the tools to be an everyday catcher, but he's a long ways from there right now.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #74 prospect in 2014 draft
  Garcia was relatively well known in high school in South Florida, spurning the Cardinals as a 20th-round pick, and has been a three-year starter at Florida International. He didn't quite show the present hitting ability to go out higher out of high school and has made steady progress under FIU coach Turtle Thomas, who produced big league catchers such as Charles Johnson and Jorge Febregas in his days as an assistant at Miami. Garcia was limited in the Cape Cod League to two games by a knee problem but has thrived this spring, walking more, striking out less and maintaining an all-fields approach while leading Conference USA in batting, on-base percentage and slugging through the first week in May. He has present strength and a mature approach at the plate and profiles as an offensive backstop. Garcia's bat is ahead of his defense, as his footwork remains problematic and his blocking needs work. He has average arm strength and had thrown out 28 percent of opposing basestealers.

• December, 2016 Scouting Report
  Background: One of the better hitting catchers available in the 2014 draft, Garcia walked more than he struck out as a Florida International junior and led Conference USA in average (.368) and slugging (.626). He popped 15 home runs at low Class A Augusta in 2015, but his timing never returned in 2016 after he missed two months with a facial fracture that required surgery. He injured himself in a collision sliding into second base. Scouting Report: Garcia has focused his attention on his defense in pro ball as a result of being labeled a bat-first catcher in high school and college. A fringe-average defender with a plus arm, he is more than playable behind the plate. He will rip off above-average pop times of 1.85-1.9 seconds on throws to second base. Garcia's blocking and the smoothness of his receiving is limited by his size and by a little stiffness, but he has worked to improve. His performance at the plate in 2016 disappointed because he didn't show his trademark power or consistent approach. If he can get back to pre-injury form, Garcia is a .250 hitter with line-drive power and about 10 home run potential.
  
  The Future: Even in a lost season, Garcia didn't carry his offensive struggles into the field, where he has only improved. He will attempt to rebound in 2017, possibly with a return to high Class A San Jose.