Dodgers Recall Onelki Garcia-Transfer Tolleson To 60-Day DL

Well it’s more like the Dodgers activated Garcia, instead of Recalling him. I mean the minor league season is over anyways, and he can just join the Dodgers. Today the Dodgers have recalled 23 year old right handed pitcher Onelki Garcia from Triple-A Albuquerque, and in a corresponding move transferred Shawn Tolleson from the 15-day DL to the 60-day disabled list.

Since the Dodgers are mere days away from clinching the NL West, with 18 games left to play, the Dodgers will be able to experiment, and give looks to young players once they clinch. This is a very cool benefit of winning the division early. Why not give a young pitcher a look right? What the hell right? Throw caution to the wind, and let’s take a look at a few of these youngsters.

Onelki Garcia’s journey to play professional baseball in the U.S. has had many twists and turns. Photo: Hans Gutknecht/ SB Sun

Garcia has been on a fast track through the minor leagues, and appears headed to a starting spot on a Major League pitching staff soon.

Garcia who is a 23 year old left hander, and who is also a Guantanamo, Cuba native, has enjoyed a breakout season in 2013. He was drafted by the Dodgers in the third round of the 2012 amateur draft. Garcia pitched in just one game in 2012, and didn’t make his official debut in the Dodger farm system until this season. The talented young lefty pitched in 25 games for Double-A Chattanooga posting a 2-3 record, a 2.75 ERA, and a 1.3 WHIP. He started in six games, and whiffed 53 and walked 32 in 53 frames. He was later promoted to triple-A where he pitched in ten games, all in relief. In those ten games he posted a 3.72 ERA and struck out 14 and walked just three in those frames of work. Overall between Chattanooga, and Albuquerque Garcia posted a 2.97 ERA, a 1.3 WHIP, and a 9.7 K/9 rate.

Garcia had trouble defecting from his home in Cuba, and before he was drafted by the Dodgers actually had to play in a local adult league before the Dodgers were able to indoctrinate him into their farm system. According to the reports. Despite some knee issues in spring training this season, Garcia shined in his brief stint in the minors.

Scouting reports tell us that Garcia’s heater can reach 90-95, which he was throwing earlier this season with the Lookouts. His fastball has topped out at 97 before. Garcia has a slider, and a powerful breaking ball which he uses. His slider is his secondary pitch, but he also is learning how to throw a changeup. According to reports, Garcia was trying to work on using different grips, and developing his changeup.

It is unclear as to how the Dodgers will use Garcia for the last two weeks of the regular season, but with the division all but clinched, there is no reason not to give him a look. Garcia is eligible to be placed onto the Dodger’s postseason roster.