Justin Garza

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #405 prospect in 2015 draft
  Garza burst on the scene as a freshman, hitting 95-96 mph at times as the fire to Thomas Eshelman's ice in Cal State Fullerton's 50-win 2013 club. Listed at 5-foot-11, 170 pounds, Garza kept showing a quick arm last year despite missing time with a shoulder injury and finished strong, no-hitting Cal State Northridge and pitching well for USA Baseball's Collegiate National Team. At his best, Garza pitches off a 91-93 mph fastball that touches higher and has late life up in the zone. His upper 70s slider and tumbling changeup have both flashed above-average as well, but Garza wasn't at his best much of this spring. He wound up requiring Tommy John surgery in late May to repair a damaged elbow. He likely lacks the durability and size to start but his power repertoire could be a bullpen fit as a pro.
• Ranked #130 prospect in 2012 draft
  Undersized at 5-foot-10, 160 pounds, Garza attracted minimal interest from scouts and colleges until signing with Cal State Fullerton toward the end of the recruiting cycle. He raised his profile by showing some of the best stuff at the Southern California Invitational in February, and over the course of the spring scouts began to view him as a bona fide top-five-rounds prospect despite his lack of physicality. Garza has electric arm speed and an easy arm action. He isn't afraid to pitch inside with a 90-94 mph fastball that he commands well. His curveball projects as an average or slightly better pitch, and he has been tinkering with an 84-87 mph slider/cutter that scouts are intrigued by. He also has the makings of an average changeup. Scouts won't be as content to let him head to Fullerton as they would have been six months ago.