Today will be the first part in a series that I will run the first and last Thursday of February and March that will look at a player that you shouldn’t sleep on and forget about heading into the 2015 season. One player will be chosen from the infield, outfield, relief group and starters group. Today I decided to look at outfielder Kevin Garcia as the pick not to sleep on from the outfield group for 2015.
Garcia missed the entire 2014 season when he broke his hand leading up to the start of the Billings Mustangs season. He returned in time to participate in instructional league in the fall but missed out on a full season of action. In 2013 he was a bit of a breakout player, hitting .328 for the Arizona League Reds with nearly as many walks as strikeouts.
When the 2015 season begins he will be 21-years-old but turns 22 in June, so despite much time in Billings (he played five games there in 2013) he could jump to the Dayton Dragons and force himself into playing time.
Scouting Report
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Garcia is a well rounded player. At the plate he understands the strikezone well and makes contact at a high rate. While he’s not going to be a big power hitter he has enough power potential in his bat to hit double digit homers in the future if he fully develops. He even brings above-average speed on the base paths.
Defensively his above-average speed allows him to handle center field just fine. When he plays in the corners he profiles as an above-average defender with big range and a solid arm.
As he enters his age 22 season the Reds may feel the need to push him into a crowded Dayton outfield, but of the group of guys that will be playing for spots on the roster in the spring he may be the most well rounded of the bunch even if he isn’t the toolsiest guy in the group.
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