Former SF Giants prospect cracks Oakland Athletics roster

The Oakland Athletics have announced that former SF Giants catcher Aramis Garcia will make their big-league roster as the team’s primary backup catcher. In November, the A’s added the second-round pick in the 2016 MLB draft off waivers from the Texas Rangers. This spring, he was competing against several players, primarily Austin Allen, for a spot on the Opening Day roster.

Garcia wasted no time making an impression in his first year with Oakland. He hit. 400/.500/.520 with three doubles in 30 plate appearances this spring. Garcia also drew five walks but struck out in 33.3% of his plate appearances. Contact has remained his biggest impediment to big-league success, but he has all the skills to be a strong contributor. After missing all of 2020 due to injury, the Giants designated Garcia for assignment. He was then claimed by the Rangers.

Former SF Giants catcher Aramis Garcia has made the Oakland Athletics Opening Day roster.

Garica dealt with injuries throughout his progression to the major leagues but never seemed overmatched. Garcia proved to be a competent defensive catcher with flashes of solid power (.419 career slugging percentage in 37 MLB games). However, he also hit just .220 with a .270 on-base percentage with an extremely worrisome 46.8% strikeout rate. 4Over his minor-league career, Garcia has appeared in 460 games and posted a .258/.322/.430 triple-slash. The Florida International alum struck out in 24.1% of his plate appearances and walked 7.7% of the time.

While Aramis Garcia never reached his full potential with the SF Giants, he will have another big-league opportunity against the Oakland Athletics. Garcia has shown the defensive chops behind the plate to carve out a solid big-league career if he can make enough contact to tap into his above-average power potential.