Former 'Dads Leury Garcia and Nick Tepesch Make Rangers Opening Day Roster!
The Texas Rangers informed former Hickory Crawdads stars Leury Garcia (SS 2009-2010) and Nick Tepesch (RHP 2011) yesterday that they have made the team's 25-man roster to begin the 2013 season. Once the duo debut for the Rangers, there will be 115 former Crawdads to don a Major League uniform!
Garcia, a member of the Crawdads for the 2009 and 2010 seasons, signed with the Texas Rangers as an international free agent in 2007. The native of Santiago, Dominican Republic joined the Crawdads as an 18-year old on May 21, 2009, starting his class Low-A career with an eight-game hitting streak. In 83 games that season, Garcia hit .232 with six doubles, three triples, a homer and 18 RBI. He also stole 19 bases and scored 28 runs.
It was during the 2010 season that Garcia's offensive game began to take off. Spending most of the season as the 'Dads leadoff hitter, he hit .262 with five doubles, four triples, three homers and 22 RBI in 89 games. But it was on the base paths that Garcia worked his magic, stealing 47 bases in 56 attempts, leading to 57 runs scored. His 47 steals are the 6th most in a season, while his 66 career swipes are third in club history.
In the field, Garcia played in 172 games at short, the second most in club history. He is also second in putouts, assists and total chances.
Garcia went on to play with the Rangers high-A affiliate at Myrtle Beach in 2011 and at AA- Frisco last season.
Nick Tepesch, a native of Blue Springs, Missouri, joined the Crawdads the following season after his selection in the 14th round by the Rangers in 2010 out of the University of Missouri. After starting the season in the bullpen, Tepesch went on to make 29 appearances for the Crawdads in 2011, 23 as a starter going 7-5 with a 4.03 ERA. In 138.1 innings, he struck out 118 with only 33 walks.
A highlight of the season came on a Monday afternoon game on June 7th against Lakewood in which he struck out ten batters over seven shutout innings in a 10-3 win over the BlueClaws. That effort earned him the South Atlantic League's Pitcher of the Week award. He also had a stretch of three starts from June 29-July 9, in which he went 3-0 with two complete games, allowing five runs on 20 hits with 17 strikeouts and two walks in 20 innings.
Tepesch split last season with Myrtle Beach and Frisco. While with Myrtle Beach on May 19, Tepesch pitched the first 7.1 innings of a combined no-hitter against Wilmington. He then went on to earn the Texas League's Pitcher of the Week award (Aug.13-19) while at Frisco, courtesy of a two-hit, seven-inning effort against the Tulsa Drillers.
Crawdads MLB Promotions by the Numbers:
Once Garcia and Tepesch debut for the Texas Rangers:
There will be 115 former Crawdads players to hit the big leagues, and 11 since the Rangers affiliation began in 2009 to make it to the majors.
The duo will be the 13th and 14th former Crawdads player to play for Texas, the 8th and 9th under the current affiliation.
Tepesch will be the 63rd former Crawdads pitcher to play in the majors.
Garcia will be the 8th former Crawdads shortstop to play in the majors.
Garcia will be the 16th out of 127 international free agent signee to play for the Crawdads, then go on to the majors.
Out of 154 players to play two seasons in Hickory, Garcia will be the 28th to make the majors.
Garcia will be the 12th Dominican born player (80 total) to play for the Crawdads, then go on to the majors.
Tepesch will join Joe Crede as the only players born in Missouri to play for the Crawdads, then go on to the majors.
Tepesch will be the 14th round pick to play in Hickory, then go on to the majors.
Garcia will be the 6th member of the 2009 team to play in the majors (Cody Eppley, Wilmer Font, Mark Hamburger, Martin Perez, Joe Wieland).
Garcia will be the 5th member of the 2010 team to play in the majors (Font, Josh Lueke, Robbie Ross, Wieland)
Tepesch will be the 3rd member of the 2011 team to play in the majors (Justin Grimm, Jurickson Profar).