Onelki García

Onelki García
García with the Omaha Storm Chasers in 2017
Charros de Jalisco – No. 44
Pitcher
Born: (1989-08-02) August 2, 1989 (age 35)
Guantanamo, Cuba
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
Professional debut
MLB: September 11, 2013, for the Los Angeles Dodgers
NPB: April 4, 2018, for the Chunichi Dragons
MLB statistics
(through 2017 season)
Win–loss record0–1
Earned run average13.50
Strikeouts3
NPB statistics
(through 2020 season)
Win–loss record21-23
Earned run average3.81
Strikeouts262
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Onelki García (born August 2, 1989) is a Cuban professional baseball pitcher for the Charros de Jalisco of the Mexican League. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Kansas City Royals, and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Chunichi Dragons and Hanshin Tigers.

Career

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Cuban career and defection

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García began playing in the Cuban National Series at age 18. In three seasons for the Guantánamo team he had a 12–12 win–loss record with a 4.73 earned run average (ERA).[1]

García defected from Cuba in August 2010 with hopes of pursuing a professional baseball career in the United States.[2] He was originally declared eligible for the 2011 Major League Baseball Draft but was ruled ineligible due to issues with his residency.[3] A year later he was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the third round of the 2012 Major League Baseball Draft.[1]

Los Angeles Dodgers

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García started his professional career with the High-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes. He started one game, striking out four over two innings pitched. He started the 2013 season with the Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts. He was promoted to the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes in August 2013.[4] Between the two levels, he was in 35 games (6 as a starter) and was 2–4 with a 2.90 ERA.

On September 11, 2013, the Dodgers purchased his contract and called him up to the Major Leagues.[5] He made his debut that night and walked the one batter he faced against the Arizona Diamondbacks. He pitched 11⁄3 innings over three games for the Dodgers in September, and allowed two earned runs on one hit and four walks. He is the first, and only, player to wear the number 98 in Major League Baseball.

He missed all of the 2014 season after undergoing shoulder surgery in the offseason.

Chicago White Sox

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On November 20, 2014, García was claimed off waivers by the Chicago White Sox.[6] The White Sox outrighted him to the minors on April 3. He was released by the White Sox in March 2016.

Diablos Rojos del México

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On July 8, 2016, García signed with the Diablos Rojos del México of the Mexican League. He was released on September 23, 2016.[citation needed] In 14 games (3 starts) 33 innings he went 0-1 with a 3.82 ERA with 30 strikeouts.

Kansas City Royals

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On October 21, 2016, García signed a minor league contract with the Kansas City Royals.[citation needed] He pitched for the Omaha Storm Chasers of the Triple–A Pacific Coast League, and was promoted to the major leagues on August 26, 2017.[7] He was designated for assignment on September 12, when the team claimed Mike Morin off of waivers.[8] On December 18, García was released to pursue a playing opportunity in Japan.[9]

Chunichi Dragons

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On December 20, 2017, García was confirmed to have signed with the Chunichi Dragons of Nippon Professional Baseball(NPB).[10] He made 27 appearances for Chunichi in 2018, compiling a 13–9 record and 2.99 ERA with 132 strikeouts across 168+2⁄3 innings pitched. García was selected to the 2018 NPB All-Star game [jp].[11] On December 1, 2018, it was confirmed that the Dragons had released García after failing to reach an agreement over a new deal.[12]

Hanshin Tigers

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On December 17, 2018, García signed a one-year, $1.5 million contract[13] with the Hanshin Tigers of NPB.[14] In 21 appearances for Hanshin, he compiled a 6–8 record and 4.69 ERA with 79 strikeouts across 103+2⁄3 innings pitched.

On December 14, 2019, García signed a one–year extension to remain with the Tigers.[15] He made 14 outings for the Tigers in 2020, registering a 2–6 record and 4.42 ERA with 51 strikeouts across 75+1⁄3 innings of work. On December 2, 2020, García became a free agent.[16]

CTBC Brothers

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On December 25, 2020, García signed a one-year, $500,000 deal with the CTBC Brothers of the Chinese Professional Baseball League.[17] On March 15, 2021, García was released by the Brothers after failing his physical. It was discovered that after he arrived in Taiwan, he had a pre-existing shoulder and elbow injury.[18]

Leones de Yucatán

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On July 13, 2021, García signed with the Leones de Yucatán of the Mexican League.[19] He made 6 starts for the team in 2022, struggling to a 7.03 ERA with 7 strikeouts in 24+1⁄3 innings pitched. García won the Mexican League Championship with the Leones in 2022.[20] García returned to the Leones in 2023, and posted a 3–2 record with a 2.31 ERA and 32 strikeouts over 50+2⁄3 innings. He became a free agent following the season.

Charros de Jalisco

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On May 26, 2024, García signed with the Olmecas de Tabasco of the Mexican League.[21] However, he was traded to the Charros de Jalisco on June 20, without making an appearance for Tabasco.[22] In 3 games 3.1 innings of relief he went 0-0 with a 5.40 ERA with 1 strikeout.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Dodgers' draft choice Onelki Garcia chasing a dream
  2. ^ "Dodgers' draft choice Onelki Garcia chasing a dream". June 15, 2012.
  3. ^ Dodgers’ Onelki Garcia Finally Gets Chance To Shine
  4. ^ Pitcher Onelki Garcia Joins Isotopes
  5. ^ "Dodgers select contract of Onelki Garcia". Archived from the original on October 4, 2013. Retrieved September 11, 2013.
  6. ^ White Sox claim Onelki Garcia off waivers from Dodgers
  7. ^ Dodd, Rustin (August 26, 2017). "Royals place Danny Duffy on disabled list with sore left elbow". The Kansas City Star. Retrieved July 7, 2023. (subscription required)
  8. ^ "Royals Claim Mike Morin, Designate Onelki Garcia". September 12, 2017.
  9. ^ Todd, Jeff (December 18, 2017). "Minor MLB Transactions: 12/18/17". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
  10. ^ "中日がロイヤルズ150キロ左腕ガルシアを獲得" [Chunichi capture 150km/h LHP Garcia]. Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). December 20, 2017. Retrieved December 20, 2017.
  11. ^ "マイナビオールスターゲーム2018 出場者". NPB.jp 日本野球機構 (in Japanese). July 3, 2018.
  12. ^ "ガルシア 中日退団 今季１３勝も…西山球団代表「条件面で折り合わなかった」 - スポニチ Sponichi Annex 野球". スポニチ Sponichi Annex (in Japanese). December 1, 2018. Retrieved December 3, 2018.
  13. ^ "Tigers scoop up former Dragon lefty Onelki Garcia". The Japan Times. December 17, 2018. Retrieved December 17, 2018.
  14. ^ "外国人選手との契約締結について". 阪神タイガース公式サイト (in Japanese). December 17, 2018. Retrieved February 8, 2019.
  15. ^ "オネルキ・ガルシア選手との契約締結". 阪神タイガース 公式サイト (in Japanese). December 14, 2019. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
  16. ^ "2020年度 自由契約選手". NPB.jp 日本野球機構 (in Japanese). Retrieved January 9, 2021.
  17. ^ "CTBC Brothers Sign Onelki García, Will Not Re-Sign Esmil Rogers". December 25, 2020. Retrieved December 26, 2020.
  18. ^ @GOCPBL (March 15, 2021). "CTBC Brothers released Onelki García after he failed his physical. According to ETtoday, García arrived in Taiwan w…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  19. ^ "Mexican League Transactions". milb.com. Archived from the original on April 10, 2022. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
  20. ^ "LMB King's Series — Championship Series 2022 — Round-up". gambyl.com. September 20, 2022. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
  21. ^ @OlmecasTabasco (May 26, 2024). "¡💣NELKI GARCÍA YA ES OLMECA! Le damos la bienvenida al lanzador cubano quien llega a fortalecer el staff de pitcheo #SomosOlmecas👊🏽⚾️" (Tweet) (in Spanish). Retrieved May 27, 2024 – via Twitter.
  22. ^ "Ceden los Olmecas a par de elementos". olmecastabasco.mx (in Spanish). Retrieved June 23, 2024.
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