Justin Garza

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Justin Garza
Cleveland Guardians
Pitcher
Born: (1994-03-20) March 20, 1994 (age 27)
Glendora, California
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
June 27, 2021, for the Cleveland Indians
MLB statistics
(through 2021 season)
Win–loss record2–1
Earned run average4.71
Strikeouts29
Teams

Justin Charles Garza (born March 20, 1994) is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Cleveland Guardians organization. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cleveland Indians.

Early life and amateur career[]

Garza grew up in Ontario, California and attended Bonita High School. He was named a high school All-American as a senior by Baseball America after posting a 12-1 record on the mounds with a 0.72 ERA and 101 strikeouts over 88 innings pitched.[1] Garza was selected in the 26th round of the 2012 Major League Baseball Draft by the Cleveland Indians, but opted not to sign.[2]

Garza played college baseball for the Cal State Fullerton Titans for three seasons. As a freshman, he went 12-0 with a 2.03 ERA and a team-leading 95 strikeouts and was named the Big West Conference Pitcher of the Year. Garza's junior season was cut short after he suffered a partially torn UCL that required Tommy John surgery. He finished his collegiate career with 21-7 career record with a 2.64 ERA and 208 strikeouts in 252+2⁄3 innings pitched.[3]

Professional career[]

Garza was drafted by the Cleveland Indians a second time in the eighth round of the 2015 Major League Baseball Draft. After signing with the team Garza spent rest of the 2015 and much of the 2016 rehabbing from his surgery before being assigned to the Arizona League Indians towards the end of the season.[4] In 2017, Garza pitched for the Single-A Lake County Captains, posting a 4-6 record and 5.83 ERA in 26 appearances. In 2018, Garza split the season between the Low-A Mahoning Valley Scrappers and the High-A Lynchburg Hillcats of the Carolina League, accumulating a 5-6 record and 3.36 ERA in 18 games between the two teams.[5] In 2019, Garza returned to Lynchburg, and pitched to a 6-9 record and 4.99 ERA with 109 strikeouts in 119.0 innings of work.[6]

Garza did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[7] To begin the 2021 season, he was assigned to the Akron RubberDucks of the Double-A Northeast before being promoted to the Triple-A Columbus Clippers after one appearance. In 12 games with Columbus, Garza notched a stellar 0.44 ERA with 28 strikeouts. The Indians selected Garza's contract and promoted him to the major leagues for the first time on June 24, 2021.[8] Garza made his major league debut on June 27, and pitched 2+2⁄3 innings of 1-run relief with three strikeouts against the Minnesota Twins in an 8-2 loss.[9] Garza earned his first career win on July 31, 2021, after pitching two innings of scoreless relief in a 12-11 victory over the Chicago White Sox.[10]

Garza was designated for assignment by the newly-named Cleveland Guardians on November 19, 2021.[11] After clearing waivers, he was outrighted to the Triple-A Columbus Clippers on November 24, 2021.[12]

References[]

  1. ^ "Garza, Knott led Bonita on CIF-SS title run". Los Angeles Daily News. June 19, 2012. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
  2. ^ "Bonita's ace pitcher capped stellar two-year run with a CIF-SS title". Pasadena Star-News. June 21, 2012. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
  3. ^ "College baseball: Cal State Fullerton pitcher Justin Garza to miss the rest of season". Orange County Register. May 13, 2015. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
  4. ^ "Titan alum Justin Garza isn't letting Tommy John surgery break his MLB dream". Orange County Register. June 14, 2016. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
  5. ^ "Justin Garza College, Minor & Fall Leagues Statistics & History".
  6. ^ Wright, Branson (April 27, 2018). "Lynchburg Hillcats starter Justin Garza is honored again: Cleveland Indians Minors Report". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
  7. ^ "2020 Minor League Season Canceled".
  8. ^ Noga, Joe (June 24, 2021). "Cleveland Indians activate Austin Hedges from concussion list, DFA Ryan Lavarnway, add RHP Justin Garza". Cleveland.com. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  9. ^ "Indians' Justin Garza: Works in long relief". CBS Sports. RotoWire. June 28, 2021. Retrieved August 1, 2021.
  10. ^ "Indians hold off White Sox in 12-11 slugfest". Reuters. July 31, 2021. Retrieved August 1, 2021.
  11. ^ "Guardians Announce Series Of 40-man Roster Moves". CleGuardians.com. November 19, 2021.
  12. ^ Noga, Joe (November 24, 2021). "Guardians outright three to Columbus, LHPs Scott Moss and Kyle Nelson claimed on waivers". Cleveland.com.

External links[]

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