Jason Garcia impresses with performance in intrasquad game

Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Rule 5 pick Jason Garcia impressed with his inning of work during the Baltimore Orioles intrasquad game at Ed Smith Stadium. Garcia struck out Nolan Reimold and Matt Tuiasosopo.

Last season, Garcia pitched in the Boston Red Sox minor league system where he posted a 3.67 ERA with 59 strikeouts and a 1.31 WHIP in 14 combined games with Class-A Lowell and Greenville.

Garcia was originally drafted by the Red Sox in the 17th round of the 2010 MLB Draft and had gone 15-16 with a career 4.69 ERA in 73 minor league games (51 starts).

This past off-season the Houston Astros  made him the fourth pick in the Rule 5 draft, and then the Orioles acquired Garcia from the Astros in exchange for cash considerations in December of last year. After bouncing around between a few organizations, Garcia has found a new home in Baltimore.

In yesterday’s intrasquad game, Garcia’s fastball was clocked in the mid-90s. Since moving to the bullpen following ligament-reconstructive surgery on his right elbow in 2013, Garcia’s velocity has increased.

His off-speed stuff was equally nasty yesterday as he got Reimold looking at a 3-2 slider. The right-hander can mix up his pitches very easily which keeps hitters guessing when they are at the plate.

Certainly this was just an intrasquad game and the highest level of competition he has faced is Single-A hitters. The talent level in Single-A hits a lot less hard than power hitters like David Ortiz and Pablo Sandoval.

Regardless, Garcia has started his spring training journey on the right foot and he could be a player to keep an eye on further down the road.