Luis Amado Garc¨ªa...On Twitter: @Luis_GarciaRd...Nickname is "Amadito," and Garcia¡¯s father¡¯s name is Amador...Amado is also Garcia¡¯s middle name...Attended Escuela Jos¨¦ Bordas Valdez (Santo Domingo, D.R.), where he played baseball, basketball and volleyball...Enjoys spending time at farms and relaxing by the river...Pitched for Estrellas de Oriente in Dominican Winter League following 2013, 2014 and 2016 seasons...Did not pitch professionally in 2011...Spent 2012 with Newark Bears in independent Canadian-American Association...Received 2014 Paul Owens Award, as best pitcher in Phillies Minor League system...Originally signed by Dodgers scout Ezequiel Sep¨²lveda.
2023
In second season with Padres, his 61 appearances tied with Josh Hader for second-most among San Diego relievers, trailing only Nick Martinez¡¯s 63...Had a 3.06 ERA (32.1 IP - 11 ER) at home and limited opponents to a .224 average (28/125)¡Posted a 5.27 ERA (27.1 IP - 16 ER) and .284 average (31/109) on the road...Pitched to a 2.51 ERA (43 IP - 12 ER) against opponents outside the N.L. West, compared with an 8.10 ERA (16.2 IP - 15 ER) in 18 appearances against N.L. West clubs...Posted a 2.45 ERA (14.2 IP - 4 ER) in 16 Interleague appearances...Limited RHH to a .214 AVG (30/140) while LHH batted .309 (29/94), but all six HR allowed came vs. righties...With RISP, opponents hit .174 (12/69) and had a .179 (5/28) batting average against with RISP and two outs...Posted a season-high 13.2 consecutive scoreless-innings across 11 appearances from Aug. 19-Sept. 15, which tied for third-longest streak of career...Had 11 game stretch (10.2 IP) from Apr. 25-May 24 without allowing an earned run (one run allowed)...Was one of 25 pitchers to make 20+ appearances from Aug. 1-Oct. 1 and post a sub.-2.00 ERA (1.96)...Per Statcast, relied on four pitches: sinker (43.8%), slider (34.6%), 4-seam fastball (13.6%) and split finger (8.1%)¡31 of 53 strikeouts came against his slider, with opponents batting .127 (7/55) against it¡opponents hit .091 (2/22) vs. his split finger...Ranked in 85th percentile and above in ground ball % (98th, 60.9%), fastball velocity (93rd, 97.2 mph), barrel % (90th, 4.9%) and average exit velocity (85th, 87.1 mph).
2022
In his first season with the Padres, he led the SD pen with 64 relief appearances, which ranked T-16th-most among all NL hurlers...Led all SD relievers with 20 holds, which ranked T-6th in the NL with NYM's Adam Ottavino...the NL hold leaders were ATL's A.J. Minter (35), MIL's Brad Boxberger (29) and Devin Williams (26), PHI's Jose Alvarado (22) and ARI's Joe Mantiply (22)...His four wins and six losses tied his career highs from 2014 with PHI, while his three saves were a career high, surpassing his two in 2015, ¡¯17 and ¡¯21...His only IL stint came at the beginning of the season with a right oblique strain before being reinstated on April 15...Did not allow an earned run in 20 of his first 23 app. from April 15-June 11, recording all four of his winning decisions and 10 holds over that stretch...Did not walk a batter across his first 10 appearances and 38 batters faced from April 15-May 10...Posted a season-high 8.0-scoreless inning streak from May 23-June 11 (G1)..Allowed runs in six of his 11 app. from June 12-July 9 (6.35 ERA) before posting scoreless outings in 24 of his final 30 from July 14-Oct. 4, converting all three of his SVO with six holds over that span (2.96 ERA, .223 AVG, 10.21 SO/9 IP)...Allowed just three hits off his slider (3-for-60, .050 AVG), his second-most used pitch (32.1 %)¡those 2 hits accounted for two of the three HR he allowed all season: (Wilmer Flores, July 9 and Ryan McMahon, June 18)...40 of his 68 strikeouts also came vs. the slider...Ranked in the 98th percentile in fastball velocity, with his sinker averaging 98.7 mph...Was scoreless in three of his four Postseason appearances, allowing just one run and three hits across his 4.2 innings of work...Made his second career Postseason appearance in Game 1 of the Wild Card Series on Oct. 7 vs. the Mets, following starter Yu Darvish (7.0 IP) and Robert Suarez (1.0) IP)...tossed a scoreless 9th frame, allowing one hit and one BB while striking out out in SD¡¯s 7-1 victory...Made his first career Division Series appearance in Game 3 vs. LAD on Oct. 14, earning his first career Postseason hold with a scoreless/hitless seventh inning, striking out two of the three batters he faced on 15 pitches in SD¡¯s 2-1 victory...Followed Yu Darvish and Nick Martinez with a scoreless ninth inning in Game 1 of the NLCS Oct. 18 vs. PHI, retiring all three batters he faced on eight pitches in SD¡¯s 2-0 defeat...The former Phillie (2013-18) entered Game 4 of the NLCS in the fifth inning on Oct. 22 and allowed one run on two hits, allowing a HR to Kyle Schwarber in SD¡¯s 10-6 defeat.
2021
Went 1-1 with a 3.24 ERA (12 ER, 33.1 IP), 0.99 WHIP and 34 SO against eight BB over 34 appearances with STL... Among all NL pitchers with a least 30 appearances, his 34 baserunners allowed tied for third fewest...Allowed just two home runs in 135 batters faced...Prior to being signed as a minor league free agent by STL on July 9, he appeared in 18 games with the New York Yankees¡¯ Triple-A affiliate (Scranton/Wilkes-Barre), posting a 3.63 ERA (7 ER, 17.1 IP) with 19 SO and three BB allowed...Relied on four pitches: sinker (58.3%) slider (28.7%) split finger (11.8%), and 4-Seam Fastball (1.2%)...against his slider, opponents hit just .148 and slugged .185...His fastball velocity ranked in the 99th percentile in MLB in 2021...his sinker and 4-seam fastball averaged at 98.3 mph...His 4.25 SO/BB ratio, 0.99 WHIP and 32.1 swing-and-miss % all ranked third on the Cardinals¡¯ pitching staff.
2020
Went 0-2 with a 7.56 ERA (8.1IP, 7ER) and 11K in 11 appearances (two starts) for the Rangers.
2019
Was on the Angels Opening Day roster and ranked among staff leaders in games (3rd, 64) and holds (4th, 6)…opponents batted .257/.357/.443/.800 overall, posting nearly identical splits vs. LHB (.255) and RHB (.260)…surrendered career-worst 1.89 home runs per 9 innings (12 HR/60.0 IP), highest rate among qualified LAA relievers and 7th-highest in the American League…allowed 11 of 26 (42.3%) inherited runners to score… issued 3+ ER in 5 appearances, including season-high 5 on 7/31 vs. DET…elected free agency on 10/28.
SUMMARY:
Posted a 2.25 ERA (4 ER/16.0 IP) in 18 outings before trip to injured list (5/13-25) for lumbar spine spasm, which included rehab appearance with High-A Inland Empire on 5/13 (1.0 IP, 0 R-ER)...earned the win in 1st appearance following IL stint on 5/26 vs. TEX (1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R-ER, 2 SO), but compiled a 5.20 ERA (26 ER/45.0 IP) in last 45 outings from 5/27-end of season…made 1st career Major League start on 5/30 at SEA as an 'opener' (1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R-ER, 0 BB, 0 SO)…was scoreless in 15 of final 20 G (5 ER/19.2 IP) with opponents slashing .217/.325/.362/.688 over that stretch…had season highs of 2.0 IP twice and 3 strikeouts on 3 occasions.
2018
Made Opening Day roster with Phillies for second time in career (also 2015)...Ranked fifth among N.L. relievers with inherited runners stranded rate of 80.6% (29/37)...Stranded each of first 15 runners to begin season... Missed over one month on disabled list with right wrist strain and had rehab assignment at Triple-A Lehigh Valley and Double-A Reading...Matched career high with four strikeouts July 24 vs. Dodgers... Struck out 28 batters in final 20.2 innings pitched (26 appearances).
2017
Among all NL relievers, finished 3rd in fewest HR/9.0 IP (0.38)... Began the season with Lehigh Valley (AAA) and was shuttled between there and Philadelphia before being recalled for the remainder of the season on 5/12... Went 31 consecutive appearances without allowing a HR, 5/25-8/4 (36.2 IP)... Had a career-best 21.2-inning scoreless streak, 6/14-7/29 (18 G); was the longest by a Phils reliever in a single season since Larry Andersen's club relief-record 32.2-inning streak, 6/21-8/2/84... Pitched at least 2.0 innings in 8 of his 66 ML appearances and had a 1.04 ERA (2 ER, 17.1 IP) in those games... In his final 23 games, posted a 1.61 ERA (4 ER, 22.1 IP); allowed an ER in 2 of those 23 games... Set career bests in ERA (2.65) and innings pitched (71.1).
2016
Had 4 separate stints with Phillies: 4/24-28, 6/10-13, 8/2-13 and 9/10-end of season...Spent most of the season with Lehigh Valley (AAA)...Became Lehigh Valley's all-time saves leader on 7/30 (38), passing Scott Mathieson...Each of his final 17 appearances with Lehigh Valley were scoreless (17.1 IP); went 12-for-12 in save opportunities over that stretch...Held opponents to a .203 AVG in 48 appearances with the IronPigs
2015
Spent first full season in the Majors...Set career highs in games (72), innings (66.2), SO (63), wins (4) and saves (2)...Posted the lowest ERA (1.14) against the NL East among all ML relievers (min. 30.0 IP)...Had a 2.09 ERA (15 ER, 64.2 IP) in 68 of his 72 appearances; allowed 11 ER in 2.0 IP (49.50 ERA) in his other four games...Earned his first ML save, 5/17 vs ARI (2.0 IP); was the first save of 2.0 or more innings by a Phillies pitcher since 9/29/09 (Ryan Madson vs HOU)...Had a 0.75 ERA (1 ER, 12.0 IP) in 11 June games...Compiled two scoreless streaks of 9.0 or more innings (9.2 IP, 7/12-8/8; 9.0 IP, 6/12-30)...Had a career-best 13.2-inning scoreless streak, 9/11/14-4/21/15 (13 G)
2014
Recipient of the Paul Owens Award as the best pitcher in the Phillies minor league system... Shuttled between Lehigh Valley (AAA) and the Phillies all season with 4 ML stints... Named to the International League All-Star team... T-1st in the IL in saves (22)... Did not allow an ER through his first 19 games (21.2 IP)... Placed on the 15-day DL on 5/22 (right forearm strain)... Appeared in 1 rehab game before being activated on 6/6 and optioned back to Lehigh Valley... Finished the ML season with a 6.2-inning scoreless streak (6 G), over which he held opposing batters to a .095 AVG (2-21)... Pitched at least 2.0 innings in 8 games for Lehigh Valley and posted a 1.08 ERA (2 ER, 16.2 IP) in those games... Held triple-A hitters to a .205 AVG (35-171)... Averaged 10.03 SO/9.0 IP with Lehigh Valley (52 SO, 46.2 IP)... Did not allow a HR with Lehigh Valley (46.2 IP)
2013
Began the season with Clearwater (A) and held opposing hitters to a .208 AVG (15-72)... Promoted to Reading (AA) on 5/29... 10 of his 11 appearances with Reading were scoreless... Promoted to Lehigh Valley (AAA) on 6/25... Had his contract selected on 7/9 and made his ML debut, 7/10 vs WSH... Had 2 stints with the Phillies (7/9-8/25 & 9/3-end of season)... Made 6 straight scoreless appearances to begin his ML career (7.2 IP)... Ended his season with an 11.0-inning scoreless streak... Held opponents to a .118 AVG (4-34) with RISP
2012
Appeared in 9 games for Newark of the independent Can-Am League, all in June
2011
Did not pitch professionally
2010
Began the season with Potomac (A)... Transferred to Hagerstown (A) on 6/2 where he spent the remainder of the season... Had two 10.0-inning scoreless streaks
2009
Began the season with Great Lakes (A) and did not allow an ER over his first 11.2 innings... Pitched at least 2.0 innings in 17 of his 34 games (50%)... Traded to WSH on 8/30 and pitched in 2 games for Potomac in September
2008
Spent the year with Ogden (R)... 15 of his 21 appearances were scoreless (71%)
2007
Pitched for the Gulf Coast League Dodgers (R)
2006
Began his pro career with the Dominican Summer League Dodgers (R)