Rangers slugger Adolis García and D-backs closer Paul Sewald have met before. The two have faced off 11 times in their respective Major League careers, with García going 4-for-10 with a home run, a double, a walk and three RBIs. In fact, Sewald has only faced only one hitter more times than García in the regular season.
With Texas and Arizona squaring off in the 2023 World Series, another matchup between the power-hitting outfielder and right-handed closer seems destined to happen. But did you know García and Sewald have a history that dates back to years before either player made his Major League debut?
That’s right. Back on July 18, 2015, the two faced off in Ajax, Ontario, Canada. It was the semifinal round of the 2015 Pan American Games: Sewald represented Team USA and García played for Team Cuba. With a leadoff baserunner aboard in a 5-5 game in the top of the eighth, García dug in against Sewald, who was then in the Mets’ Minor League system.
García -- then known by his full name, José Adolis García -- dropped an excellent bunt down the first-base line. He was originally called out on a tag attempt by the first baseman, but García successfully proved his innocence and was allowed to stay at first with a bunt single. Cuba added a one-out hit to load the bases, but Sewald recorded a clutch strikeout for the second out before Team USA got out of the inning.
García’s future Rangers teammate, Travis Jankowski, ended up delivering a win for Team USA. In the bottom of the ninth, he singled with two outs and a full count, stole second and scored on a walk-off hit. But the U.S. -- with a roster including current Major Leaguers Josh Hader, Zach Eflin, Tom Murphy and Daniel Vogelbach -- fell to Canada in 10 innings in the gold medal game.
In 2017, two years after their Pan Am Games meeting, García signed with the Cardinals. Sewald made his Major League debut that season with the Mets. Now, the two are headed for a World Series face-off. Who knows if this distant throwback matchup will be on their minds?