BIOGRAPHY
Luis García was born January 30, 1987, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. He is a pitcher in the MLB.
After spending 2011 out of baseball and in 2012 pitching only nine games for the Newark Bears of the Can-Am League during which he totaled an 11.57 ERA, García assumed his professional career was over, and began trying to learn the trade of barbering at a salon in New Jersey. At night, he worked at a moving company.
At that time, García’s only baseball activity was teaching children and a few pickup games, yet Phillies international scouting director Sal Agostinelli heard about García and sent someone to watch him throw. After discovering that García consistently threw a fastball that was 94 miles per hour (mph) as well as an "impressive" slider, Agostinelli had García come to Phillies spring training. The Phillies signed him to a minor league contract and assigned him to the Clearwater Threshers, their Advanced-A affiliate, on March 25, 2013. Agostinelli was quoted as saying, "It's literally one of those things as a scout that you dream about."
Despite his accolades from the scouting staff, García was not expected to reach the majors. Beginning the year in Clearwater before earning promotions to the Double-A Reading Fightin Phils and the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs, García combined to post a 1.67 ERA and 9.3 strikeouts per nine innings pitched (K/9). He was called up to the Major Leagues on July 9, 2013, to replace Phillippe Aumont.
García was recalled from Lehigh Valley on May 8, 2014 and had several stints with the Phillies that season, ultimately appearing in 13 games. In 2015, García made the Phillies' Opening Day roster after a strong spring training.
On December 12, 2020, García signed a minor league contract with the New York Yankees organization. He was assigned to the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders to begin the 2021 season. In 18 appearances with Scranton, García logged a 1–2 record and 3.63 ERA. He was granted his released by the Yankees on July 6.
On July 9, 2021, García signed a major league contract with the St. Louis Cardinals. Garcia debuted for the Cardinals against the Chicago Cubs on the same day.
On December 1, 2021, García signed a two-year contract with the San Diego Padres.
Garcia signed with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim following the 2023 season.
