Marauders' Garcia changes it up in first win

Yeudy Garcia spent the first month of the season learning how to succeed in the Florida State League. He put those lessons to good use on Tuesday.

The Pirates' 18th-ranked prospect allowed two hits and three walks while striking out six over six innings as Class A Advanced Bradenton blanked Jupiter, 4-0, at Roger Dean Stadium.

Garcia (1-4) nabbed his first FSL win, thanks to the emergence of his changeup. Marauders pitching coach Jeff Johnson said he believes the offering can be invaluable for the hard-throwing right-hander.

"It's something he hasn't used a lot this year," Johnson said. "I think he threw 17 or so changeups tonight, which really helped him. It takes pressure off your fastball command when you throw the changeup. You don't have to so specific and on point with the fastball when your changeup is working."

Along with ratcheting up the use of his changeup, Garcia benefited from focusing on efficiency rather than overpowering hitters. The 23-year-old worked quickly in holding the Hammerheads hitless through five innings and exited after throwing 49 of 83 pitches for strikes.

"Yeudy is very aggressive. He's got a really good slider," Johnson said. "So his tendency when he's got in trouble has been to throw it harder and try to spin it more. With that, being a starter in his second year, the league is a little better than what he had last year. They don't swing at as many balls out of the zone as he's used to, so he is having to throw more strikes.

"We've been trying to take some pressure off of the effort and having to throw as many breaking pitches. Being efficient and putting the ball in play, then they don't see as many sliders early in the game, and it gives him a chance later."

Even when the Hammerheads loaded the bases with one out in the sixth, Garcia kept his cool. He struck out Marlins No. 12 prospect Brian Anderson before getting Taylor Ard to pop out to shortstop Pablo Reyes.

With his second scoreless outing of the year, Garcia slashed his ERA to 3.05. In five starts in May, that number shrinks to 1.80, along with a 2.5 BB/9 rate. At the end of April, those numbers stood at 5.40 and 6.7, respectively.

"I think he's learning, first and foremost," Johnson said. "He didn't know what it was going to be like in the Florida State League. I think he probably had just a normal young pitcher's mindset: 'Hey, I had a great year last year, I'll just keep going out and doing the same thing and it'll be fine.'

"I think that kind of surprised him a little bit. The hitters were better than he expected, and so it was a little bit of a struggle for him out of the gate. We've been working and talking about how it's the same game. You got to throw a little more strikes early in the count and things will get easier for you."

In that regard, Garcia can only benefit from the continued emergence of his off-speed pitch. Johnson said developing that offering remains the priority heading into his next appearance.

"As long as he starts, the changeup needs to be a weapon for him," Johnson added. "It's something we've been talking about and working on because I think that's going to be the big pitch for him.

"He threw those tonight as well as I've ever seen him."

Pirates No. 22 prospect Kevin Kramer doubled twice and plated a pair of runs for Bradenton.

Jupiter's Jorgan Cavanerio (3-4) gave up four runs -- three earned -- on five hits and fanned four over four innings in relief of rehabbing Marlins left-hander Mike Dunn, who allowed a hit and struck out one in a scoreless first.