Reds sign Cuban shortstop Garcia
Two days before the Cincinnati Reds willl select from the best available talent with the second overall pick in the First-Year Player Draft, they added another top young star to their ranks.On Saturday, Cincinnati signed 19-year-old Cuban shortstop Jose Israel Garcia to a Minor League contract. Garcia will report to
Two days before the Cincinnati Reds willl select from the best available talent with the second overall pick in the First-Year Player Draft, they added another top young star to their ranks.
On Saturday, Cincinnati signed 19-year-old Cuban shortstop Jose Israel Garcia to a Minor League contract. Garcia will report to the Reds affiliate in the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League.
"Right away, Jose stood out because of his 6-foot, 3-inch live, athletic body," Reds director of international scouting Tony Arias said in a statement. "During the 18U Pan Am gold medal game, I thought this kid would fit right in with the USA team's middle infielders, who were going to be some of the best young kids available for the 2017 Draft."
Garcia was immediately slotted in as the Reds' No. 11 prospect, according to MLB.com. He stands as the third consecutive Cuban prospect on that list behind shortstop Alfredo Rodriguez (No. 9) and right-handed pitcher Vladimir Gutierrez (No. 10), both of whom signed with Cincinnati in 2016. The teenager's top-graded tool is his speed, which checks in at 60.
Two years ago, Garcia impressed on the international scene as a member of the Cuban national team for the 2015 U-18 Baseball World Cup. In 34 at-bats, the then-17-year-old batted .382/.500/.432 with four doubles, seven runs scored and five driven in. According to MLB Pipeline, "Garcia played a lot of second base for the Cuban national team, but the Reds believe he has the goods to stick at shortstop long-term."
"He is a super-athletic player who hits line drives using the whole field," Arias said in the statement. "He showed his ability to run and showed great instincts."
According to MLB.com's Jesse Sanchez, Garcia is expected to receive a signing bonus of nearly $5 million, the latest in a line of heavy deals on the international free agent market for Cincinnati. Last summer, the Reds gave Rodriguez $7 million and $4.75 million to Gutierrez. Cincinnati has committed $17.5 million to 20 signees during the 2016-17 international signing period, far exceeding its allotted pool total of $5,163,400. As penalties, the Reds will be charged a nearly $12.5-million overage fee and will not be allowed to sign a player for more than $300,000 in either of the next two international signing periods.
The next international signing period begins July 2.
The DSL Reds opened their season on June 3 and went 3-4 in their first week of games.
Tyler Maun is a contributor to MiLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @TylerMaun.
Penney-wise Whitecaps capture series
COMSTOCK PARK, Mich. – Jack Penney knocked an opposite-field two-run homer and an RBI single to help the West Michigan Whitecaps (21-12) cruise to a 6-2 Mother’s Day victory over the Lansing Lugnuts (18-15) on Sunday afternoon at LMCU Ballpark. The Whitecaps won the final three games of the series,
Elliott homers but Lugnuts fall, 6-3
COMSTOCK PARK, Mich. – Clark Elliott deposited a monstrous home run over onto the roof of a building beyond the right field wall, but Lansing Lugnuts (18-14) dropped a second straight game to the West Michigan Whitecaps (20-12), 6-3, on Saturday afternoon at LMCU Ballpark. The Whitecaps extended their lead
Whitecaps hold off Lugnuts, 7-6
COMSTOCK PARK, Mich. – T.J. Schofield-Sam crushed his first home run of the year, but the West Michigan Whitecaps (19-12) rallied past the Lansing Lugnuts (18-13), 7-6, on Friday night at LMCU Ballpark. The Whitecaps retook sole possession of first place in the Midwest League’s East Division with the win.
Echavarria wins first as Nuts tie Caps for 1st
COMSTOCK PARK, Mich. – 19-year-old Steven Echavarria tied a career high with 4 2/3 scoreless innings to earn his first professional victory, and the Lansing Lugnuts (18-12) doubled up the West Michigan Whitecaps (18-12), 4-2, in a Thursday matinee at LMCU Ballpark, tying the Whitecaps for first place in the
Pitcher of the Week Jump immaculate, triumphant in 3-1 win
COMSTOCK PARK, Mich. – Reigning Midwest League Pitcher of the Week Gage Jump added the latest eye-opening performance to a sensational pro debut, recording an immaculate inning amid an eight-inning, eight-strikeout display of unfettered brilliance, leading the Lansing Lugnuts (17-12) to a 3-1 victory over the West Michigan Whitecaps (18-11)
Nuts deny no-hitter, fall 2-0
COMSTOCK PARK, Mich. – T.J. Schofield-Sam broke up a no-hit bid with a two-out single in the eighth, but the West Michigan Whitecaps (18-10) completed a 2-0 shutout of the Lansing Lugnuts (16-12) on Tuesday night at LMCU Ballpark. The opener of the six-game series was completed in exactly two
Lugnuts' Jump named MWL Pitcher of the Week
LANSING, Mich. – Lansing Lugnuts pitcher Gage Jump has been named the Midwest League’s Pitcher of the Week for the week of April 28-May 4, Minor League Baseball announced Monday afternoon. Jump, 22, allowed only one baserunner, a Jonah Advincula fourth-inning single, in firing five scoreless innings with seven strikeouts
Valenzuela delivers rainy walkoff winner in 10th, 1-0
LANSING, Mich. – Sahid Valenzuela slapped a game-winning RBI single through a drawn-in infield in the bottom of the 10th inning, and the Lansing Lugnuts (16-11) walked off the Lake County Captains (15-12), 1-0, on a rainy Sunday afternoon at Jackson® Field™. The victory clinched a six-game series split with
After Judkins gem, Caps top Nuts in 9th
LANSING, Mich. – Grant Judkins pitched six scoreless innings, but los Picantes de Lake County (15-11) scored three runs in the ninth to best the Lansing Locos (15-11), 3-1, in a Copa Saturday matinee at Jackson® Field™. Lake County has won two straight games in the series and enters the
Captains strike early, top Lugs 5-3
LANSING, Mich. – Jaison Chourio lined a two-run single in a three-run rally, and the Lake County Captains (14-11) built a five-run lead and defeated the Lansing Lugnuts (15-10), 5-3, on Friday night at Jackson® Field™. The Caps and Lugnuts have split the first four games of the six-game series.
Jump nearly perfect in 5-0 rain-shortened win
LANSING, Mich. – The Lansing Lugnuts (15-9) jumped out to a quick lead, Cole Conn and Tommy White homered, and Gage Jump turned in his latest dominating performance in a 5-0 rain-shortened victory over the Lake County Captains (13-11) on Thursday night at Jackson® Field™. The game was delayed twice,
Robinson schools Captains in 5-2 Lugnuts win
LANSING, Mich. – In the first Grand Slam School Day of the season, Kyle Robinson twirled six hitless innings while Clark Elliott homered and drilled a two-run single to help the Lansing Lugnuts (14-9) beat the Lake County Captains (13-10), 5-2, in a Wednesday matinee at Jackson® Field™. In the
Captains rout Locos late, 13-5
LANSING, Mich. – The Lake County Captains (13-9) broke open a tight game with six-run rallies in the eighth and ninth innings, romping to a 13-5 win over the Lansing Locos (13-9) on Tuesday evening at Jackson® Field™. Lansing starter Yunior Tur had tossed 5 1/3 strong innings, allowing only
Cedeño HR in 9th helps TinCaps stop Lugnuts, 5-4
LANSING, Mich. – Nerwilian Cedeño slugged a go-ahead two-run homer onto Larch Street in the top of the ninth inning, and the Fort Wayne TinCaps (10-11) edged the Lansing Lugnuts (13-8), 5-4, on Sunday afternoon at Jackson® Field™. The result ended a four-game TinCaps losing streak, though Lansing still won
Down 7-0, Lugs rally to win, move into 1st place
LANSING, Mich. – The Lansing Lugnuts (13-7) gave up seven runs in the first three innings, scored nine runs in the next three innings, and won their fourth straight game over the Fort Wayne TinCaps (9-11), 9-7, in a Saturday matinee at Jackson® Field™. With the win, the Lugnuts clinched
Jump fans 13 in LSU-driven Lugnuts win
LANSING, Mich. – LSU teammates Gage Jump struck out 13 batters in 6 2/3 scoreless innings and Tommy White delivered a first-inning RBI double and an eighth-inning RBI single, lifting the Lansing Lugnuts (12-7) to a 3-1 victory over the Fort Wayne TinCaps (9-10) on Friday night at Jackson® Field™.
Schofield-Sam's huge night lifts Lugs, 7-3
LANSING, Mich. – The Lansing Lugnuts started T.J. Schofield-Sam as their designated hitter on Thursday night against the Fort Wayne TinCaps – and he accepted the role, and then some. Schofield-Sam went 5-for-5 with three extra-base hits and the Lugnuts (11-7) scored in each of the first four innings en
Lugs’ pen quiets TinCaps, 8-3
LANSING, Mich. – A night after allowing 16 hits and 15 runs in a slugfest loss, the Lansing Lugnuts (10-7) stopped the Fort Wayne TinCaps (9-8), 8-3, on Wednesday night at Jackson® Field™. After starter Yunior Tur struck out six in five innings, a quartet of Lugnuts relievers – Hunter
De Vries cycles TinCaps past Locos, 15-14
LANSING, Mich. – 18-year-old Leo De Vries, the No. 1 prospect in the San Diego Padres organization, completed the cycle with a tie-breaking two-out two-run triple in the top of the ninth inning, and the Fort Wayne TinCaps (9-7) held off the Lansing Locos (9-7), 15-14, on Tuesday night at
Nuts complete win, Judkins CG wrap Wisconsin series
APPLETON, Wisc. – The Lansing Lugnuts (9-6) completed a 4-3 victory from Friday night before Grant Judkins tossed the Midwest League’s first complete game in a 2-0 loss to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (5-10), concluding a six-game series on Saturday afternoon at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium. The
Nuts win 5th straight, rain suspends nightcap
APPLETON, Wisc. – The Lansing Lugnuts (8-5) extended their winning streak to five with an 8-4 win over the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (4-9) in Game 1 of a day-night doubleheader on Friday afternoon at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium. Game 2? More like Game To Be Continued. The
Lugnuts, Team Lyders Taco Bell announce Launch-a-Ball to benefit Capital Area Humane Society
LANSING, Mich. – The Lansing Lugnuts and Team Lyders Taco Bell are teaming up to support the Capital Area Humane Society through Launch-A-Ball, launching into Jackson® Field™ during nine select home games throughout the 2025 season. “At Team Lyders Taco Bell, we’re always looking for ways to bring fun, community,
Lugnuts hold off T-Rats, win 4th straight
APPLETON, Wisc. – In a game featuring their first back-to-back home runs in four years, it was a run-scoring balk in the ninth inning that lifted the Lansing Lugnuts (7-5) to a 4-3 victory over the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (4-8) on Thursday night at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities
Three-run 8th keys third straight win
APPLETON, Wisc. – Yunior Tur struck out eight batters in 4 2/3 innings, and the Lansing Lugnuts (6-5) used a three-run rally in the eighth inning to top the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (4-7), 3-1, on Wednesday afternoon at Neuroscience GroupField at Fox Cities Stadium. The Lugnuts have won three consecutive
Garland, Nuts open Wisconsin trip with W
APPLETON, Wisc. – Jake Garland pitched into the seventh inning, and the Lansing Lugnuts (5-5) were in control from start to finish for a 6-2 series-opening win over the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (4-6) on Tuesday night at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium. Following Sunday’s memorable 12-11 12-inning victory