Jaime Garcia - Cardinals - 2005/22 - 23 - LHP
If you have a good memory, you'll recall Garcia's time with the Cardinals in 2008. I didn't. I'm pretty sure Cardinals fans remember, and that it's not a good memory. Garcia's 2008 season was cut short when he required Tommy John surgery. Amazingly, he made it back to pitch nearly 40 innings in the minor leagues in 2009. He had around 120 the previous year before the injury, and 100 innings during 2007. As exciting as his debut has been, expectations should be tempered accordingly—workload will be an issue.
Fastball 91
Sinker 91
Change-up 84
Slider 84
Curveball 76
This season has been kind to Garcia to date, which won't last forever. Still, Garcia looks like a legitimate starter, and not just a beneficiary of competing against the likes of Rich Hill for the job. While his curveball may catch the eye, it's the slider that has been his wicked pitch. It's a pitch he added after the elbow reconstruction, but has fallen in love with already—left-handed batters have seen it on 45 percent of the pitches Garcia has thrown to them this year.
The Hardball Times
No comments:
Post a Comment