Nick
Garcia

2020 DRAFT: Tall and athletic, Garcia is a converted third baseman with a repeatable delivery. He closed for the Panthers in 2019 and was named the Most Outstanding Player of the DIII World Series. He converted to the starting rotation this spring and took his game to an even higher level, creating big buzz among the SoCal scouts during the early weeks this spring. During our first look in July of 2018 in the New York Collegiate League, "Garcia worked with a steady pace and late effort. With a projectable frame at 6-foot-3, 195 pounds, his lower half shows more development and present strength than his upper body. Possesses wide, rounded shoulders that can handle additional weight. Quick arm action as he gets out to a three-quarter release point. Lands slightly across his body. Generates good rotational power and hip speed. Very impressive one inning of work with two strikeouts. Fastball was 89-92 mph with good life into the zone. Showed more control with it than pure command. Mixed in a tight slider at 81-84 mph, yet was a bit inconsistent. At its best it flashed good depth to go with late horizontal break. Could develop into a true out-pitch for him. Pitches with noticeable confidence and goes right after hitters. Still young with limited innings on his arm. Could make big jumps with more development and repetition." Now standing 6-foot-4, 215 pounds Garcia currently sits 92-94 mph with fastball, while touching 97. It's a heavy ball that he commands and induces a ton of ground balls. He has clean arm action and there is still even more room for more velo gains in his frame as he fills out and becomes more polished on the mound. His changeup is still developing, but his slider velocity continues to increase (now mid-80s), as does its quality. Now average and flashing better at times. He will also mix in an average upper-80s cutter. Despite not facing top-level competition, Garcia did have a solid showing in the Cape last summer (3.17 ERA, 17 IP, 15 H, 11BB, 20 SO) and continued that success with 36 strikeouts in 27 IP at Chapman this spring. His athleticism, fastball velocity and low-mileage arm will lead many clubs to consider him in the top three rounds.

7/9/2018: Tall, projectable frame at 6’3/195 pounds. Lower half shows more development and present strength than upper body. Wide, rounded shoulders that can handle additional weight. Works with a steady pace and late effort. Quick arm action as he gets out to three-quarter release point. Lands just slightly across his body. Generates good rotational power and hip speed. Very impressive one inning of work with two strikeouts. FB was 89-92 mph with good life into the zone. Showed more control with it than pure command. Mixed in a tight SL at 81-84 mph. SL was a bit inconsistent but at its best flashed good depth to go with late horizontal break. Could develop into a true out-pitch for him. Pitches with noticeable confidence and goes right after hitters. Still young with limited innings on his arm. Could make big jumps with more development and repetition. (Dan Jurik)