Robert Garcia #62

Robert Christopher Garcia…he and wife, the former Paige Virgil, have two children: daughter, Adalynn, and son, Andrew…had planned on retiring from professional baseball following the 2021 campaign, but was selected by Miami in the Minor League phase of the 2021 Rule 5 Draft…notes that he was sitting at his desk at a new job when he received word of his selection…after completing his undergraduate degree in managerial economics at UC-Davis in 2018, earned his master’s degree in business administration from Grand Canyon University in 2020 while Minor League Baseball was suspended to due the pandemic…had two-year collegiate career at the University of California-Davis, where he met Paige – a four-year member of the Aggies’ water polo team…posted a 3.41 ERA (61 ER/161.0 IP) with 134 strikeouts in 32 career collegiate games/24 starts from 2016-17…finished his 2016 redshirt freshman season with a 2.73 ERA in 85.2 IP, earning an All-Big West honorable mention at season’s end…prepped at Modesto Christian H.S. where he was a four-year baseball letter winner…earned first team All-Trans Valley League nod following his senior season in which he posted a 0.89 ERA with 102 strikeouts while also hitting .369 as a first baseman for the Crusaders…his sports hero is Nolan Ryan.

2024

The left-hander set career highs in wins (3), games (72), innings (59.2), holds (13) and strikeouts (75) in his first full season in Washington, leading the club’s staff in strikeouts per 9.0 (11.31)…his 11.31 SO/9 signified the second-highest mark by a qualified left-handed reliever over a single season in Nationals history (beg. 2005) to only Sean Doolittle’s 2018 campaign (12.00 SO/9)…his 72 games were tied-sixth most in the National League…also ranked among MLB LH relievers in games (T4th), strikeout to walk ratio (5th, 4.69) and strikeouts per 9.0 (10th, 11.31)…limited opponents to a .237/.288/.323/.611 (55-232) slash line, including a .226/.291/.301/.592 (21-93) line vs. left-handers… missed 13 games from 4/23-5/6 while on the 15-day Injured List with influenza; stint included one Minor League rehab appearance at Single-A Fredericksburg (2.0 IP, 0 R, 4 SO)…also missed time from 8/17-19 while on the Bereavement/Family Medical Emergency List…enjoyed heightened success in the season’s latter months, posting a 3.06 ERA (11 ER/32.1 IP) over his final 36 games of ’24 beginning 7/3, compared to his 5.60 ERA (17 ER/27.1 IP) over his first 36 G…did not permit a walk in 22 of his final 23 games (2 BB/23 SO in span) beginning 8/4, including zero walks in his final 17 G (18 SO in span)…had 31 appearances of 0.2 IP or fewer, second-most such games in the N.L. to only ARI’s Joe Mantiply (38)…also logged nine relief appearances of 1.1+ IP (13.1 IP, 0.68 ERA)…had just one outing of 2.0+ IP (8/31 vs. CHC – 2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R-0 ER), compared to his nine such outings in 2023…Washington was 33-39 in his 72 appearances.

2023

Made his Major League debut with Miami on July 14 at Baltimore and eventually joined the Nationals on Aug. 1...Earned first career hold in first outing with the Nationals, Aug. 8 at Cincinnati (2.0 IP, BB, 2 SO)...Earned his first Major League win on Sept. 17 at Miilwaukee (2.0 IP, H, 2 BB, SO)...Pitched the 10th and 11th innings of a thrilling 2-1 win...Six of 13 earned runs came in one outing, Aug. 17 vs. Boston (0.2 IP)...Pitched to a 2.03 ERA (7 ER/31.0 IP) in the 23 other appearances...Left-handed batters hit .214 (9-for-42) with two extra-base hits (2B, HR)...Went 2-0 with a hold and a 0.00 ERA (11.0 IP) and a .176 opponents’ batting average (6-for-34, 0 XBH) in his last nine games before going on the Paternity List on Sept. 29...2023 Pitch Mix: 4-Seam Fastball (48.7%) Changeup (27.2%) Slider (24.1%).

2022

Robert Garcia, a non-roster invitee for the second consecutive season, posted a 3.75 ERA (62.1 IP/26 ER) in 46 total appearances in 2022... Made two outings with Double-A Pensacola, going scoreless in 4.2 innings with one hit allowed and four strikeouts. Promoted to Triple-A Jacksonville on April 17 and spent the rest of the season there... Went 1-5 in 44 appearances with the Jumbo Shrimp, holding opponents to a .222 batting avg. and posting a 1.37 WHIP in 57.2 innings pitched... Did not allow a run in the month of April (two games w/ Pensacola and 24 games w/ Jacksonville). Struck out 11 batters and allowed two total hits in 11.2 innings pitched.