Detroit Tigers 40-Man Roster Preview: Bryan Garcia

The Detroit Tigers hope that Bryan Garcia post-Tommy John surgery can continue to be an effective reliever as he was in the minors.

When the Detroit Tigers drafted Bryan Garcia in the 6th round in the 2016 MLB Draft, he was a part of a pitcher heavy draft class that included Matt Manning, Kyle Funkhouser, and John Schreiber. Garcia would quickly rise through the minors, putting up some eye-popping numbers in his first season in the minors in 2017 as he rose four levels.

• West Michigan: 14 games 14.1 IP 27K 4BB 17.0 K per 9 ERA 3.14
• Lakeland 7 games 8.2 IP 15K 2BB 15.6 K per 9 ERA 0.00
• Erie 17 games 18.2 IP 24K 8BB 11.6 K per 9 ERA 0.96
• Toledo 14 games 13.1 IP 12K 8BB 8.1 K per 9 ERA 4.05
• Overall 2017 numbers: ERA 2.13 55IP 78Ks 2 HR allowed (one in Erie and one in Toledo) 12.8 K per 9

He sat the entire 2018 season due to Tommy John surgery. While on his way back from surgery, Chris and I got the opportunity to talk to him last year while he was working his way back from surgery in Toledo before his call up.

He features a fastball, slider, and a change-up. His slider has looked good so far in summer camp and from just a quick look in summer camp, his fastball velocity looks like it is getting back to what it was before surgery.

As James Chipman of Tigers Minor League Report.com wrote in his report, he currently projects as a sixth or seventh inning pitcher. Garcia has the closer’s mentally, setting the saves record at the University of Miami but in order to be an effective reliever, just based on the small sample size in his call up last season, just controlling his walks.

The Detroit Tigers bullpen has a series of power relievers with Garcia among them. If Garcia continues to work on his slider and change-up as his wipeout pitch against right-handers, he can jump into the role between Buck Farmer and Joe Jimenez.