Deivi García

Deivi Anderson García

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 10", Weight 163 lb.

• Debut August 30, 2020

• Born May 19, 1999 in Bonao, Monsenor Nouel, D.R.

BR page

Biographical Information

Pitcher Deivi García was signed by the New York Yankees before the 2016 season as an amateur free agent from the Dominican Republic. He began his pro career with the DSL Yankees 2, going 1-5, 2.61 in 12 starts, then in 2017 pitched for the three different teams. He was with the DSL Yankees for 3 games, then earned successive promotions to the GCL Yankees and Pulaski Yankees. Combined, he went 6-2, 3.30 in 30 games, with 85 strikeouts in 60 innings.

In 2018, he made 8 starts for the Charleston RiverDogs of the South Atlantic League, where he was 2-4, 3.76, before earning a promotion to the Tampa Tarpons of the Florida State League. On August 6th, he pitched an absolute gem in the second game of a doubleheader against the Clearwater Threshers, with 7 perfect innings during which he struck out 12 opponents. Unfortunately for him, his teammates were unable to score, and Tampa lost the game when reliever Christian Morris allowed a run without giving up a hit in the 8th.

He was named to the roster of the American League team for the 2019 Futures Game. He made his major league debut with the Yankees on August 30, 2020, starting the second game of a doubleheader against the New York Mets. He pitched 6 innings, allowed just 1 unearned run on 4 hits and no walks while striking out 6. He was not involved in the decision as the Yankees won the game, 5-2, in extra innings. He worked particularly well with veteran catcher Erik Kratz, who had been a mentor to him in AAA the year before as they were teammates with the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders and again at the Yankees' alternative training site at the start of the season. In fact, García called Kratz "Padre". He earned comparisons to Hall of Famer Pedro Martínez for his great control and excellent change-up, and the great Pedro himself tweeted him congratulations after the game. He kept his turn in the rotation the rest of the year, making 6 starts and going 3-2, 4.98, with 33 strikeouts in 34 1/3 innings, against just 6 walks. He was impressive enough that most observers though he should be the Yankees' number three starter in the postseason, after aces Gerrit Cole and Masahiro Tanaka. That turn came up in Game 2 of the Division Series against the Tampa Bay Rays on October 6th, after Cole had started the opener. However, the Yankees tried to do something cute, leaving him for only the first inning - during which he allowed a solo homer to Randy Arozarena -, before he was replaced by veteran lefty J.A. Happ in the 2nd, in the hope that the lefthanded-heavy Rays line-up would be flummoxed. It did not work, as the Yankees lost the game, 7-5, and most observers remarked that neither pitcher was put in the game in circumstances in which he could succeed. Both were also unavailable for the remainder of the series as a result of the failed strategy.

Heading into spring training in 2021, it was widely expected that Garcia would be one of the Yankees' starter, having proved he belonged at the major league level, and with Tanaka, Happ and James Paxton all having left during the off-season. However, at the same time, Domingo German was back after what turned out to gave been a one-year suspension for domestic violence, while veteran Corey Kluber was added as a free agent and Jameson Taillon via a trade. With Cole and Jordan Montgomery as holdovers, it was Deivi who drew the short straw, and on March 26th the Yankees announced that he would start the season back in AAA.

Further Reading

• CJ Haddad: "Never too late: García flashing potential in camp. Former highly touted prospect has new approach as he looks to get on track", mlb.com, March 13, 2023. [1]
• Bryan Hoch: "García K's 6 in debut: 'I wasn't nervous'. Sánchez ropes mammoth 453-foot grand slam in extras", mlb.com, August 30, 2020. [2]

Related Sites

• Deivi García on mlb.com
• BR Minors page