The choice was Deivi Garcia, a right-handed pitcher from the New York Yankees system and I was pretty pleased to select Garcia among a small group of pitchers that I was looking at for this pick and later in the draft.
The right-hander from the Dominican Republic made fifteen starts last season at three levels, Low A Charleston, High A Tampa, and AA Trenton.
Garcia made just one start in Trenton, but pitched five innings without allowing a hit and striking out seven.
Garcia turns 20 in May and since he made only six starts at Tampa, I'd normally think that he would start the season there, but his six starts in Florida saw Garcia strike out 35 in 28 innings and finish with an ERA of 1.27, so there is the possibility that the Yankees may decide to start Garcia at AA with the Thunder.
Garcia is noted to throw in the mid 90's, but he is more than just a fireballer as his curveball is just as good at this time.
Garcia also has the motion that brings to mind the exaggerated windup's of Luis Tiant or Johnny Cueto that creates deception for the hitter and there is one point to add and it's a huge one for possible future success- Garcia throws strikes.
Sounds simple, but for a 19-year-old at three levels to strike out 105 and walk only twenty in seventy plus innings that shows the type of maturity that you don't always see from a young pitcher.
There is one concern, which is a slight frame at 5'10 and only 163 (pretty specific there) pounds.
Smallish pitchers don't always seem to have the length of career that larger pitchers have, but they often are dominant during their peak.
Deivi Garcia's size does give me a little pause, but the scouting reports are glowing and even though there is a risk, it's possible that Garcia could have the highest potential of any pitcher in this draft.
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