Yankees fans have already met Deivi Garcia as he made it with the team in 2020 over 6 starts including 6 innings of shutout work against the New York Mets in his MLB debut. Deivi Garcia has all the makings- 4 pitches, a solid track record, the look of a major leaguer- to be a pitcher who stays in the MLB as a solid mid-tier starter. However, some are concerned given his small size (5’9”) and effortful delivery with if it will hold up over a whole seasons worth of starts. I believe in Deivi and I want to see him back in the pinstripes soon.
DEIVI GARCIA, RHP (#3):
Age/Date of Birth: 21 Years Old (05/19/1999)
Most Recent Team(s) (Level and Year): New York Yankees (MLB, 2020), Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Railriders (Triple-A, 2019), Trenton Thunder (Double-A, 2019), Tampa Tarpons (Class-A+, 2019)
MLB Career Statistics (2020-2021): 3-3 Record, 4.93 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 38.1 Innings, 37 Strikeouts, 9 Walks (7 Games, 7 Games Started)
Most Recent Yearly Statistics (2019): 5-9 Record, 4.28 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 111.1 Innings, 165 Strikeouts, 54 Walks, (26 Games, 21 Games Started)
Bats/Throws: Right/Right
Height/Weight: 5’9”/163 Pounds
Acquired: Signed by the New York Yankees as part of the 2015/2016 International Free Agent Class in early July, 2015.
MLB ETA: 2021
DEIVI GARCIA SCOUTING GRADES (20-80 SCALE):
Fastball: 55
Curveball: 60
Slider: 55
Changeup: 50
Control: 45
Overall: 55
What to Know:
Coming out of the Dominican Republic, the Yankees found themselves- even amidst a international spending cap- three arm that have all become solid prospects in their system: Alexander Vizcaino (#9), Luis Medina (#7), and Deivi Garcia (#3). Signing for $200,000 in early July 2015 with the Yankees, Garcia has been one of, if not the, best arm in the Yankees system since his signing. Though, he would have to wait until 2016 to make his professional debut.
In 2016 Deivi Garcia would spend the season with the Yankees 2 of the Dominican Summer league (Foreign Rookie) and while his record was horrible at 1-5, his stats showed the promise that he had. A 2.61 ERA, 1.14 WHIP with 61 K’s over 48.1 innings.
In 2017, Deivi would start the season again in the DSL but after 3 games he would make his debut in American with the Yankees West of the Gulf Coast League (Rookie). However, after just 4 games (2 starts) the Yankees would move him again up to the Pulaski Yankees (Appalachian League, Rookie) where Garcia would finish out the season. Over the multiple moves (this would be a trend) Deivi pitched to a 3.30 ERA with a 1.02 WHIP.
In 2018, Deivi Garcia would start the year with the Charleston RiverDogs (Class-A, South Atlantic League) but after just 8 starts with a 3.76 ERA the Yankees would promote him to the Tampa Tarpons (Class-A+, Florida State League) and then after 5 games there he would make a 1 start appearance with the Trenton Thunder (Double-A, Eastern League). At the end of the season, Deivi would have a 2.55 ERA with a 0.95 WHIP.
2019 would bring another round of promotions to three different teams as Deivi really became a top prospect, not just in the Yankees system, but across baseball. Starting the year with the Tampa Tarpons, Deivi would slowly move up the chain back to the Trenton Thunder and then crack onto the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (Triple-A, International League). This would move Deivi incredibly close to the MLB as he pitched 11 games at both Double and Triple-A over the season while pitching to a combined 4.28 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP.
In 2020, Deivi would be in the Yankees alternate site while also being promoted up to the Major Leagues to make his debut with a great 6 innings of shut-out work against the New York Mets. Deivi would spend September as a member of the Yankees rotation and would make an opening appearance in the ALDS, though that became a controversial issue.
As of now in 2021, Deivi has been assigned to back to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre where he has started 3 games, pitched 13.1 innings, and has a 3.38 ERA. He also had a 4 inning start with the Yankees this year and is expected to make more starts with the MLB team over the year.
Deivi Garcia is a special pitcher because he not only has a 4 pitch repertoire, but he has all four pitches as solid offerings to utilize. He isn’t going to overpower hitters, but his ability to throw strikes and get strikeouts is noticeable as he has a low-90s fastball (that can reach 97 MPH), a low-80s slider, a low-80s changeup, and his best pitch (which may be the best across the minors) with his curveball that comes across in the mid-70s with incredible break.
While Deivi does have all the tools to be successful (and has shown he can be in the MLB in short stints), his small frame at 5’9” does have many people concerned about his ability to stay built and ready for a whole seasons worth of work. This is especially seen in his effortful delivery, of which may not be able to hold up over 30 starts in a season.
What Will the Future Hold?
Deivi Garcia has already cracked into the MLB over the last two seasons and he will certainty do so again throughout 2021. Currently with the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, Deivi is really only an injury to a starting pitcher away from making it back to the MLB. While he hasn’t shown excellence in the MLB thus far, he has shown glimpses of being a great starting pitcher who could be a great #3 arm for a rotation. The only questions that really remain are his ability to do so over the long season with the increased workload (he’s only played 78 games/70 starts in his whole 6-year career).
WIth an MLB ETA of 2021 and the fact that Deivi has already been with the Yankees in 2021, it’s expected he’ll be back with the team soon. Personally, I believe Deivi will be a solid MLB pitcher even with the concerns about his height and durability. In his 6 starts in 2020, and especially his rookie debut, he showed that he can shut-down the opposition. I’m fully expecting more of that as I believe Deivi will be a solid mid-rotation arm once he comes back to the Bronx.
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