Wednesday’s game hung in the balance. The Blue Jays were up 2-0, but the Atlanta lineup was turning over and the tying run was at the plate so the call went out to Old Reliable. On came Yimi Garcia to put out the fire.
The right-hander struck out Michael Harris II to snuff out the threat, then came back out for the eighth and struck out the Nos. 2, 3 and 4 hitters, handing things over to Jeff Hoffman, who closed out the 3-1 win.
Garcia was one of eight veterans let go in last July’s trade deadline purge. He returned on a two-year, $15 million (U.S.) contract in December and the reunion is going exceptionally well.
A small team at the University of Waterloo partnered with the Orioles to develop AI technology to monitor pitchers by using low-resolution video.
A small team at the University of Waterloo partnered with the Orioles to develop AI technology to monitor pitchers by using low-resolution video.
The 34-year-old has stepped right back into the late-inning, high-leverage role he filled for almost three seasons, with a spotless 0.00 ERA through the first 19 games.
He came back, he said, because of his teammates.
“The people are really nice here,” Garcia said in his thick-accented but strong English in a conversation that can be heard on this week’s episode of ”Deep Left Field,” the Star’s baseball podcast.
”(The Jays) have good players, but they are really nice people, that’s the number one. I like the team, I like how they play .”
Those people are thrilled to have Garcia back.
“I was really happy,” right-hander José Berríos said of his reaction to the news Garcia was returning. “I was proud of him because he got a good contract and he’s going to (take care of) his family, but also he’s back with us and we can compete together.”
Berríos admires Garcia’s attitude on the mound. “He’s fearless. He’s aggressive, he’s passionate. He doesn’t care who is hitting, he’s going to make his pitches and get the hitter out.”
Chad Green was equally excited to have his late-inning partner back. “I was super-pumped for him. I knew before we traded him that he really enjoyed it here, so you’re hoping that we were going to be able to sign him back.
“He’s just got really good stuff, he’s nasty. He’s got an elite ability to spin the baseball.”
The fearlessness, the aggression, the stuff and the come-right-at-you attitude have all combined to make Garcia one of the top set-up relievers in the game.
The Dominican will hit the 10-year mark in service time Friday. He has posted a 1.047 WHIP with 9.8 strikeouts per nine innings over a career that started with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2014 and has since seen stops in Houston, Miami and Seattle. He’s made more appearances with the Blue Jays than anyone else.
Garcia was the Marlins closer in 2021 but only has a dozen saves outside of that season, 10 of them with the Jays, with whom he’s pitched in just about every relief role from the fifth inning on.
After years of quietly signing the cheques, ownership was front and centre to discuss Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s $500-million (U.S.) contract on Monday.
After years of quietly signing the cheques, ownership was front and centre to discuss Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s $500-million (U.S.) contract on Monday.
“That’s hard,” Jays manager John Schneider said. “Roles are so important in today’s game and I think our guys have done a great job of understanding when the most important part of the game may be. Some guys are a little hesitant about it — they want to pitch the eighth or the ninth — Yimi is just ready for whatever, whenever the situation calls.”
And when Garcia comes into a game, the gentle giant puts on a whole other face.
“I am very different on the mound than off,” he said. “A lot of people think I am that angry man, you know? But I’m a very happy man. A lot of people are scared to come talk to me, but I don’t know why.”
The manager does. “He’s the nicest guy ever,” Schneider said. “And he’s scary as hell on the mound. He’s my least favourite pitcher to take out of a game.”
Green sees Garcia’s personality change even before he comes into a game. “He’s definitely intimidating when he gets a baseball in his hand, that’s for sure, because he’s got that competitive edge to him.”
Wednesday’s outing was a prime example.
“He takes the ball and goes out and dominates,” said Hoffman, who notched his fourth save of the season after Garcia’s contribution to the Jays’ single-game record of 19 strikeouts. “Every time, from pitch one through the end of the inning, he’s just really attacking. And that’s just what you need.”
Through most of his 172 sorties with the Blue Jays, Garcia has been just what they’ve needed. He doesn’t seem to be slowing down.
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