| Luis García | |
|---|---|
| Free agent | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1996-12-13)December 13, 1996 (age 28) Bolívar, Venezuela | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| September 4, 2020, for the Houston Astros | |
| MLB statistics (through 2025 season) | |
| Win–loss record | 29–19 |
| Earned run average | 3.60 |
| Strikeouts | 371 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Luis Heibardo García (born December 13, 1996) is a Venezuelan professionalbaseballpitcher who is a free agent. García signed with theHouston Astros as an internationalfree agent in 2017, and made hisMajor League Baseball (MLB) debut in 2020.
Luis García signed with theHouston Astros as an internationalfree agent on July 2, 2017.[1] He spent the 2017–2019 seasons inMinor League Baseball with theDominican Summer League Astros,Quad Cities River Bandits,Tri-City ValleyCats, andFayetteville Woodpeckers.[2]
García was called up to the majors for the first time on August 29,2020.[3] He made hismajor league debut on September 4, against theLos Angeles Angels.
In 2020, García had awin–loss record (W–L) of 0–1 with a 2.92earned run average (ERA) in12+1⁄3innings pitched (IP) over the course of five games (one start).[4] García made hispostseason debut in Game 5 of theAmerican League Championship Series (ALCS) against theTampa Bay Rays. He pitched two scoreless innings in abullpen game that the Astros went on to win.[5]
García played his first full major league season for the Astros in2021. He appeared in 30 games, starting 28, and registered155+1⁄3 innings pitched. He posted an 11–8 win–loss record with a 3.48 ERA, and 167strikeouts,[4] ranking third on the club in innings pitched and second in strikeouts.[6] García led AL rookie pitchers inWins Above Replacement (WAR, 3.1), wins, strikeouts, and innings pitched. His strikeout total trailed onlyTom Griffin in1969 with 200 for most among rookies in franchise history. García was the eighth Astros rookie pitcher with at least eleven wins.[7] Following the regular season, theHouston chapter of theBaseball Writers' Association of America (BBWAA) named García as the Astros'Rookie of the Year.[8] He finished second toRandy Arozarena ofTampa Bay in theAmerican League Rookie of the Year balloting, receiving two first-place votes.[9] García was also awarded with a selection to that year'sTopps All-Star Rookie team.[10]
In the postseason, García struggled initially, losing both of his first two starts (Game 3 of theALDS and Game 2 of theALCS) while failing to get past the third inning in each. However, he adjusted his mechanics and started Game 6 on October 22 which resulted in a gem; in5+2⁄3 innings, he struck out seven with one walk and one hit while helping to shut out theBoston Red Sox. The lone hit was yielded to the final batter,Kike Hernandez. Thus, García tied the club record for the longest number of innings pitched without allowing a hit in postseason history, equalingBrandon Backe's performance in the2004 NLDS. Garcia's start was also the second-longest no-hit bid by a rookie (afterMichael Wacha in2013) and the most by an AL rookie pitcher.[11] That night, the Astros prevailed 5–0 to defeat the Red Sox and win the American League pennant.
Garcia started Game 3 of theWorld Series. He went3+2⁄3 innings while allowing one run on three hits, four walks, and six strikeouts in a 2–0 loss to theAtlanta Braves; he is the fifth pitcher to have that many strikeouts with one earned run allowed in four innings or less and first sinceRich Hill.[12]
On May 6,2022, García matched a career-high with nine strikeouts versus theDetroit Tigers, going seven innings, allowing two hits, one earned run, and earning the win in a 3–2 final score. He retired the final 15 batters faced and, at one point, five consecutive via strikeout.[13] On May 29, García retired the first 13Seattle Mariners batters until a walk toEugenio Suárez and did not allow the first hit untilLuis Torrens singled leading off the sixth inning as the Astros eventually won, 2–1.[14]
On June 15, García authored animmaculate inning in the second inning versus theTexas Rangers atGlobe Life Field, striking outNathaniel Lowe,Ezequiel Durán, andBrad Miller. Five innings later, teammatePhil Maton struck out the same trio of batters en route to his own immaculate inning, making this the first occasion in the major leagues of two immaculate innings pitched both in the same game and on the same date.[15] García's immaculate inning was the eighth in team history.[16] On June 30, he led a 2–1 win over theNew York Yankees with one run allowed over5+1⁄2 innings, three hits and six strikeouts.[17]
On July 12, García allowed one hit in six scoreless innings to theLos Angeles Angels, retiring the final 13 batters while striking out seven.[18] The one hit allowed was a career low through his first 45 major league starts. His sixthquality start of the season, it was the 17th consecutive produced on the road by Houston pitching. Per anAT&T SportsNet broadcast, that extended the longest streak in franchise history, exceeding the1972 club (14).[19] In a September 3 start versus Los Angeles, García tossed seven innings and allowed one run as Houston fell 2–1 inextra innings.[20] On September 19, García started the first five innings and won a 4–0 shutout of theTampa Bay Rays to clinch a fifthAmerican League West division title for the Astros over the previous six seasons.[21] In his final start of the regular season on October 2, García was the winning pitcher with one run allowed over six innings versus Tampa Bay, culminating a 7–0 record and 3.20 ERA over his last eight starts. His seven wins from August 12 onward led the AL.[22]
During the 2022 regular season, García was 15-8 with a 3.72 ERA in 28 starts covering157+1⁄3 innings.[23]
In the third game of the2022 ALDS, García earned the win after working the final five innings of a series-clinching sweep of the Mariners. The game had remained scoreless for an unprecedented 17 innings until rookieJeremy Peña homered in the top of the 18th to eventually win it for the Astros, 1–0, in the longest shutout in postseason history.[24] The Astros advanced to theWorld Series and defeated thePhiladelphia Phillies in six games to give García his first career World Series title.[25]
García began the2023 season in Houston's rotation, making 6 starts and registering a 2–2 record and 4.00 ERA with 31 strikeouts in 27 innings pitched. In a May 1 outing against theSan Francisco Giants, García departed with right elbow discomfort after only eight pitches.[26] On May 5, it was announced that García would requireTommy John surgery, ending his 2023 season.[27]
García did not play for Houston in2024, making two rehabilitation appearances for the rookie-levelFlorida Complex League Astros and Double-ACorpus Christi Hooks.[28]
On January 9,2025, García and the Astros agreed to a $1.875 million contract for the season, avoiding arbitration.[29] On January 25, it was announced that García would likely not be ready for Opening Day.[28] He was transferred to the 60-day injured list on April 7.[30] García was activated from the injured list on September 1.[31] He made two starts for Houston, where he logged a 1-0 record and 3.52 ERA with seven strikeouts across7+2⁄3 innings pitched. On September 10, García was placed on the injured list due to right elbow discomfort.[32] He was transferred to the 60-day injured list two days later, officially ending his season.[33] On September 24, managerJoe Espada announced that García would miss the entirety of the 2026 due to an unspecified elbow surgery.[34] He elected free agency on November 6, after being removed from the 40-man roster.[35]
García played forTeam Venezuela in the2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC). He made his WBC debut during Venezuela's opening game of the tournament and inPool D play, pitching three innings versus theDominican Republic. He became the first pitcher to strike out at least seven batters in one relief outing in WBC play, also earning ahold as Venezuela won, 5–1.[36]
