WILLY GARCIA | CORNER OUTFIELDER |
 | Born: September 4, 1992 Height: 6′ 3″ Weight: 177 Bats: Right Throws: Right Signed: Int. FA, Pittsburgh Pirates, 2010 How Acquired: Int. FA Country: Dominican Republic Agent: N/A |
WTM’S PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES |
| Garcia was the Pirates’ biggest international signing in 2010 after Luis Heredia. He’s a toolsy outfielder with the tall, lean build that the team seems to like in young outfielders. He’s not a burner, but he runs well and has a strong arm. 2010 Held his own in DSL debut, with fair strike zone judgment. He split his time between the two outfield corners. 2011 Got off to a slow start in the GCL, with an OPS under .500 in eight June games. He got hot in July, though, with an OPS well over .900. He then cooled off in August. His plate discipline was a problem, although it improved after June when he had twelve Ks and no walks. His base stealing also needs work. He split his time about evenly between center and right, and had eight outfield assists in just 46 games. He made a cameo appearance at State College at the end of the season. Garcia is still raw, as the BB and K numbers show, but he has a significant ceiling, including the potential to hit for power. He played the 2011 season at age 18 and made good progress. The end-of-season promotion to State College showed the Pirates were considering whether to move him up to West Virginia in 2012 and, in fact, that’s where he’ll open. The Power will have a very young outfield with Garcia, Polanco and Josh Bell. |
STATS |
| Baseball Reference–Minors Fangraphs MiLB.com |
CONTRACT INFORMATION |
| 2012: Minor League Contract |
PLAYER INFORMATION |
| Signing Bonus: $280,000 MiLB Debut: 2011 MLB Debut: N/A MiLB FA Eligible: 2016 MLB FA Eligible: N/A Rule 5 Eligible: 2014 Added to 40-Man: N/A Options Remaining: 3 MLB Service Time: 0.000 |
TRANSACTIONS |
| April 26, 2010: Signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates as an international free agent. |
