In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is García and the second or maternal family name is Rodriguez.

Robel Estiwal García Rodriguez[1] (born March 28, 1993) is an Italian-Dominican professional baseball infielder who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago Cubs, and in the KBO League for the LG Twins.

Career

Cleveland Indians

García signed with the Cleveland Indians as an international free agent out of the Dominican Republic on June 20, 2010 at 17 years old. He made his professional debut with the rookie-level Arizona League Indians, hitting .164 over 43 appearances. García returned to the AZL Indians for the 2011 campaign, batting .284/.371/.544 with six home runs, 24 RBI, and seven stolen bases.[2]

García split the 2012 season between the Low-A Mahoning Valley Scrappers and Single-A Lake County Captains, hitting .217/.304/.301 with three home runs, 39 RBI, and five stolen bases across 119 combined appearances. García spent 2013 with both affiliates as well, playing in 67 games and slashing .207/.304/.356 with five home runs, 26 RBI, and seven stolen bases.[3] After four seasons, he was released by the Indians on his 21st birthday on March 28, 2014.[1] He had topped out in the Single–A Midwest League in 2012 and 2013.[4]

Fortitudo Bologna

After his release, García moved to Verona to be with his Dominican-Italian wife and their children. He began playing independent baseball there in 2016 and joined Redskins Imola and then Fortitudo Bologna of the Italian Baseball League in 2017.[1] In 2018, he played for UnipolSai Bologna and was a member of the Italy national baseball team that played in the 2018 Super 6 baseball tournament.[5]

Chicago Cubs

After being spotted during an exhibition series for Italy in the Arizona Instructional League, García signed a minor league contract with the Chicago Cubs on October 31, 2018.[6] He started the 2019 season with the Double-A Tennessee Smokies before being promoted to the Triple-A Iowa Cubs after 22 games.[7]

On July 3, 2019, the Cubs selected García's contract and promoted him to the major leagues for the first time.[8] He made his debut that night as a pinch hitter for Brandon Kintzler and struck out in his first at-bat.[9] On July 4, García tripled off Jordan Lyles for his first MLB hit. He also singled and hit a solo home run in the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Cincinnati Reds

García was claimed off waivers by the Cincinnati Reds on July 26, 2020.[10] García did not play in a game for Cincinnati in 2020.

Houston Astros

On October 26, 2020, García was claimed off waivers by the New York Mets.[11] On February 1, 2021, García was designated for assignment following the acquisition of Jordan Yamamoto.[12] On February 3, García was claimed off waivers by the Los Angeles Angels.[13] On February 25, García was designated for assignment by the Angels following the waiver claim of Jack Mayfield.[14]

On February 27, 2021, García was claimed off waivers by the Houston Astros.[15] García played in 46 games for the Astros in 2021, struggling to a .151 batting average with one home runs and eight RBI. On September 15, the Astros designated García for assignment.[16] On September 18, he cleared waivers and was sent outright to the Triple-A Sugar Land Skeeters.[17]

Chicago Cubs (second stint)

On March 21, 2022, García signed a minor league contract with the Chicago Cubs.[18] García played in 41 games for the Triple-A Iowa Cubs, hitting .295 with 12 home runs and 30 RBI. On June 4, the Cubs released García to allow him to pursue an opportunity overseas.[19]

LG Twins

On June 5, 2022, García signed with the LG Twins of the KBO League.[20] In 39 games for the Twins, he slashed .206/.308/.353 with four home runs, 19 RBI, and four stolen bases. García was released by the team on October 7.

Leones de Yucatán

On May 12, 2023, García signed with the Leones de Yucatán of the Mexican League.[21] In 13 games, he batted .192/.309/.255 with nine hits and five RBI. García was released on May 30.[22]

Unipolsai Fortitudo Bologna

On July 25, 2023, García signed with the UnipolSai Bologna of the Italian Baseball League.[23] In 3 games for Bologna, he went 2-for-7 (.286) with 3 RBI and 1 walk. García became a free agent following the season.

Personal life

García is a citizen of the Dominican Republic and a naturalized Italian citizen. His wife, with whom he has at least three children, is Dominican-Italian.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Thompson, Phil (July 29, 2019). "Not even a cardboard glove and a roster snub could derail Robel Garcia's remarkable journey from the Dominican Republic to Italy to the Cubs". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved December 17, 2019.
  2. ^ "Robel Garcia - Stats - Batting". fangraphs.com. Retrieved February 28, 2025.
  3. ^ "Robel Garcia Stats & Scouting Report". baseballamerica.com. Retrieved February 28, 2025.
  4. ^ "Robel Garcia Minor & Winter Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 17, 2019.
  5. ^ Rogers, Phil. "Robel Garcia Well On His Way From Team Italy to Wrigley Field". Forbes.
  6. ^ Sharma, Sahadev. "'Who is this kid and what's he doing here?' Can Robel..." The New York Times.
  7. ^ "'He's completely exceeding everybody's expectations': Robel Garcia's surprise rise with the Cubs". Des Moines Register.
  8. ^ Mark Gonzales (July 3, 2019). "Theo Epstein threatens 'a ton of changes' if Cubs don't improve and then team calls up Robel Garcia". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved July 3, 2019.
  9. ^ Jake Crouse (July 3, 2019). "Garcia called up to Cubs amid talk of 'changes'". MLB.com. Retrieved July 4, 2019.
  10. ^ "Reds Claim Robel Garcia". July 26, 2020. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
  11. ^ "Mets Claim Robel Garcia, Designate Ryan Cordell". October 26, 2020. Retrieved October 26, 2020.
  12. ^ "Mets Acquire Jordan Yamamoto". February 1, 2021. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  13. ^ "Angels Claim Robel Garcia". February 3, 2021. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  14. ^ "Angels Acquire Jack Mayfield, DFA Robel Garcia". February 25, 2021.
  15. ^ "Astros Claim Robel Garcia". February 27, 2021.
  16. ^ "Astros Designate Robel Garcia for Assignment". September 15, 2021.
  17. ^ "Minor MLB Transactions: 9/18/21". September 18, 2021.
  18. ^ Franco, Anthony (March 21, 2022). "Cubs, Robel Garcia Agree To Minor League Deal". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
  19. ^ Polishuk, Mark (June 4, 2022). "Cubs Release Robel Garcia". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  20. ^ Polishuk, Mark (June 5, 2022). "KBO's LG Twins Sign Roblel Garcia". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  21. ^ "EL DOMINICANO ROBEL GARCÍA SE UNE A LOS CAMPEONES!". leones.mx (in Spanish). May 12, 2023. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
  22. ^ "Robel Garcia Stats, Fantasy & News". milb.com. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  23. ^ "Il colpo è servito, Robel Garcia ritorna all'UnipolSai Fortitudo Bologna". fortitudobaseball.it. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
Allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robel_Garc%C3%ADa
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