EXPLORERS’ FORMER MAJOR LEAGUER GARCIA HEADED BACK TO AFFILIATED BALL WITH TAMPA BAY

MOORHEAD, MINN. – The Sioux City Explorers have sold the contract of RHP Jason Garcia to the Tampa Bay Rays’ organization, the American Association announced Tuesday, July 2. Garcia is the 29th  American Association player to have his contract purchased by a Major League organization in 2019.

Garcia is in his second season with the Explorers and he has been nothing short of brilliant. In 2018, the former major leaguer went 3-0 with a 1.56 ERA in 23 innings of work. So far in 2019, Garcia has earned a league high eight wins while posting a 2.73 ERA and striking out 51 batters in 56  innings pitched.

Garcia began his professional career in 2010 after being drafted in the 17th round of the MLB Draft by the Boston Red Sox. The 26-year-old spent five seasons in the Red Sox organization before moving on to the Baltimore Orioles organization in 2015. Garcia made his major league debut with the Orioles in 2015, posting a 4.25 ERA over 29.2 innings pitched across 21 relief appearances. Garcia spent two more seasons in Baltimore’s organization before a stint with the Colorado Rockies Double-A club in 2018.