Edgar Garcia Takes One Step Closer To Philly

A year ago, the Phillies added Seranthony Dominguez to their 40-man roster and by early May, the hard-throwing righthander was in the big leagues on his way to becoming manager Gabe Kapler’s favorite bullpen weapon.

Edgar Garcia might be able to make a similar rise in 2019. The 22-year-old righthander was added to the 40-man roster in November after a season in which he recorded a 3.64 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP in 52 games at Double-A Reading and Triple-A Lehigh Valley. In 64.1 innings, he struck out 72 batters and walked 27 while holding opponents to a .206 average.

With the way the Phillies and most other organizations love to shuttle relievers between Triple-A and the majors, Garcia could get an early chance in Philadelphia if he continues to blossom.

Like Dominguez, whose fastball can touch triple digits, Garcia owns a dominant pitch.

“His slider is nasty, maybe the best in the organization,” minor league pitching coordinator Rafael Chaves said. “He gets a high percentage of swings and misses on the pitch. It’s a weapon.”

Garcia’s slider is tight with a sharp, downward break. He complements the pitch with a fastball and an improving changeup. His fastball sits at 92-93 mph and has touched 96. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound Garcia has an athletic, pitcher’s build.

The Phillies signed Dominguez out of the Dominican Republic for a bargain $25,000 in October 2011. Garcia signed for $30,000 in May 2014 when he was 17. Garcia had been a shortstop when area scouts Luis Garcia and Carlos Salas first saw him. The scouts did not see much of a bat but they liked his arm. Now, Garcia is knocking on the door of Citizens Bank Park.

“Our player development staff has done a good job with this guy,” Chaves said. “And Edgar has done a good job turning himself into a prospect. He has excellent makeup. He is tough and smart. He asks good questions. He challenges himself and he competes.”

PHIL-UPS

— In addition to Garcia, the Phillies added righthander Adonis Medina and shortstop Arquimedes Gamboa to the 40-man roster to shield them from the Rule 5 draft.