We will be counting down the the Indians top ten prospects going into the 2012 season every Friday. There is not a lot of information on these players, especially for those in the lower levels, but hey, we will do our best.
10. Robel Garcia, INF
DOB: 3/28/93
Height/Weight: 6-0/168
Bats/Throws: S/R
Drafted/Signed: 2010, Dominican Republic
2011 Stats (AVE/OBP/SLG): .284/.371/.544 at Rookie (45 G)
Tools Profile: His bat stands out, but his other tools are solid.
Garcia is an 18-year-old third baseman from the Dominican Republic with an unexpectedly nice glove and a good feel for hitting. According to scouts, Garcia’s glove stands out. In one youtube video I saw of him in instructional league in 2010, one of which saw him dive glove-side for a ball in the left-side hole, pocket the ball, find his feet, acquire a quick grip on the ball, and fire a strong, accurate throw to first to get a baserunner that obviously could run very well. It was an advanced play from a prospect who appears to have some polish and projection. Garcia is thrill at the plate—his performance was uneventful—but I liked his swing and overall approach to hitting. I would need to see more plate appearances to offer specifics, but I heard and saw enough to know Garcia has the tools to hit.
Year in Review: Garcia is yet another impressive young infielder who put up big numbers in the complex league.
The Good: Indians officials see Garcia as an under-the-radar player among their bounty of youthful infielders. He has a mature approach at the plate, and a high-leverage swing that gives him the potential for 50/55-grade power down the road. He’s an average runner once he gets going, and has a plus arm.
The Bad: Garcia lacks the athleticism to be a big-league shortstop. It depends on how he develops, but he should work well at second or third. He can get power-conscious at times, as opposed to focusing on hard contact, which leads to too many strikeouts.
Cool Fact: Garcia was born is Las Matas de Farfan, a city of less than 40,000 people just east of the country’s border with Haiti, that has already produced five big-leaguers.
Projection: He could be an offense-oriented infielder.
Fantasy Impact: He’s a long way from the big leagues, but he could turn into an infielder with a lot of offense.
Path to the Majors: Garcia’s full-season debut will probably have to wait, as he’s expected to play in the New York-Penn League this summer
ETA: 2016
You can see Garcia perform for yourself at the video below…
http://youtube.com/watch?v=PbPjll5z780?rel=0
*Most scouting reports courtesy of Indians Prospect Insider and Kevin Goldstien.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
