Jaime García

Jaime García
St. Louis Cardinals – No. 54
Starting pitcher
Born: (1986-07-08) July 8, 1986 Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico
Bats: Left	Throws: Left
MLB debut
July 11, 2008 for the St. Louis Cardinals
Career statistics (through 2013 season)
Win-loss record	39–25
Earned run average	3.45
Strikeouts	437
Teams
St. Louis Cardinals (2008–present)
Career highlights and awards
World Series champion (2011)

Jaime Omar García (born July 8, 1986) is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals.

Early life

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.^[2]

Professional career

Draft and Minor Leagues

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.^[3]

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.^[3]

St. Louis Cardinals (2008-present)

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 after the 2008 season and began the 2009 season on the 60-day disabled list. Later in the 2009 season, García returned to the Cardinals organization and was optioned 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).^[4] 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.^[5]

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.^[6] 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. ^[7]

On August 2, 2011, García hit his first career home run, a three-run homer off Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Shaun Marcum.

During the 2011 season, García went 13–7, second in the NL in complete games (2), shutouts (2), and wild pitches (12), and his .650 win-loss percentage was 9th best in the National League.^[4]

García during the 2011 World Series parade.

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 (Fernando Valenzuela was the first in 1981) to ever start a World Series game. Garcia pitched 10 innings, including seven scoreless 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 went 7-7 with a 3.92 ERA in the 2012 season before being shutdown for the year due to shoulder discomfort. The Cardinals would go on to be one win away from going to the 2012 World Series before losing to the San Francisco Giants in the NLCS.^[8]

In 2013, García went 5-2 with a 3.58 ERA before being injured and ultimately undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery.^[9]

With Garcia out for the season, the Cardinals advanced to play the Boston Red Sox in the 2013 World Series after defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 6 of the NLCS. They would go on to lose the series 4-2.^[10]

He will be prepared to play at the start of the 2014 season.^[11]

Personal life

García has two sisters, Karina and Ahimee García.^[2]

Ironically, García being a left-handed pitcher, his mother Gloria is the only lefty among ten siblings. García and his mother are also the only lefties among their immediate five member family. ^[12]

García resides in McAllen, Texas in the off-season.

García is second cousin of hip-hop recording artist, Luciano. Their mothers are first cousins.^[13]

Awards

• All-Star Futures Game selection (2008)
• Baseball America's All-Rookie team (2010)
• Topps All-Star Rookie Pitcher (2010)
• 1x NL Player of the Week (4/4/2011)
• World Series champion (2011)

References

External links

• Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)
• Garcia player profile at Scout.com