| Jaime García | |
|---|---|
| St. Louis Cardinals – No. 54 | |
| Starting pitcher | |
| Born: July 8, 1986 Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico |
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| Bats: Left | Throws: Left |
| MLB debut | |
| July 11, 2008 for the St. Louis Cardinals | |
| Career statistics (through 2011) |
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| Win-Loss | 27–16 |
| Earned run average | 3.27 |
| Strikeouts | 296 |
| Teams | |
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| Career highlights and awards | |
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Jaime Omar García (born July 8, 1986) is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals.
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Jaime García was born on July 8, 1986 in Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico as the second of three children to civil engineer Jaime García, Sr. and Gloria Rodríguez Flores. [1]
García was raised between the border of Reynosa, Mexico and McAllen, Texas. [2]
He attended Sharyland High School in Mission, Texas. [3]
García was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 30th round of the 2004 MLB Draft. Due to a poorly translated test, the Orioles initially chose not to sign García. By the time a new scouting director changed the team's position, García opted to re-enter the draft.[4]
García was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 22nd round of the 2005 MLB Draft. Joe Almaraz, the Orioles scout who wanted to sign García in 2004, had moved on to the Cardinals organization, and was influential in the Cardinals selection of García.[4] García made his major league debut in relief on July 11, 2008 against the Pittsburgh Pirates, pitching two innings, giving up one hit, walking one, and striking out two.
García underwent Tommy John surgery following the 2008 season, causing him to miss most of the 2009 season. Late in the 2009 season, García returned to the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds. On September 9, 2009, García retired the first 13 batters he faced in the Redbirds first playoff game against the Albuquerque Isotopes.
The 2010 MLB season was García's first full season in the majors. He was chosen as the number five starter over fellow lefty Rich Hill, who started the season with the Memphis Redbirds in AAA, and Kyle McClellan, who returned to the bullpen for the Cardinals. He finished the season in third place in the voting for NL Rookie of the Year with a record of 13–8, and an ERA of 2.70 (4th in the NL).[5] García was named a starting pitcher on Baseball America's 2010 All-Rookie Team and a pitcher on the 2010 Topps Major League Rookie All-Star Team.[6]
García began the 2011 season as the number three starter. On May 6, 2011 García took a perfect game into the 8th inning, before a one out walk, followed by a hit. The near-perfect game ended as a two hit complete-game shutout.[7] On July 13, 2011 it was announced that the Cardinals signed García to a 4-year contract extension that guarantees him $27.5 million. The contract includes a club option for the following two seasons. With the club option, García has the opportunity to earn $50 million, which could keep him with the team for six years until 2017. [8]
In 2011, García was 13–7, second in the NL in complete games (2), shutouts (2), and wild pitches (12), and his .650win-loss percentage was 9th-best in the National League.[5]
The St. Louis Cardinals advanced to play the Texas Rangers in the 2011 World Series after defeating the Philadelphia Phillies and Milwaukee Brewers in the playoffs. When García started Game 2, he became the second Mexican-born pitcher, with Fernando Valenzuela being the first in 1981, to ever start a World Series. Garcia pitched 10 innings, including seven scorless innings, and posted a 1.80 era with 10 strikeouts in the series. On October 28, 2011 the Cardinals defeated the Rangers 4-3 in the best-of-seven series after being down 3-2 to claim the franchise's 11th World Series title.
García has two sisters, Karina and Ahimee García. [9]
He has a large family that reside in Reynosa, Mexico, McAllen, Texas and Dallas, Texas. Ironically, García being a left-handed pitcher, his mother Gloria is the only lefty among ten children born to Armando Rodríguez and Consuelo Flores (García's grandparents). García and his mother are also the only lefties among their immediate five member family. [10]
García resides in McAllen, Texas in the off-season.
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