White Sox recall Leury Garcia from Class AAA Charlotte

KANSAS CITY - Prior to tonight's game at Kansas City, the Chicago White Sox recalled infielder Leury (lay-OOH-ree) Garcia from Class AAA Charlotte.

            Garcia, 22, was acquired from Texas on August 11 as the player to be named later from the August 9 trade in which Chicago sent outfielder Alex Rios and cash considerations to the Rangers.

Garcia has combined to hit .265 (59-223) with four triples, four home runs, 20 RBI, 15 stolen bases and 34 runs scored in 55 games this season between Charlotte and Class AAA Round Rock of the Pacific Coast League. He has made 47 appearances at shortstop, six in center field and two at second base.

The 5-foot-7, 160-pound Garcia made the Rangers Opening Day roster, batting .192 (10-52) with eight runs scored in 25 games. He made nine starts at second base and two each at shortstop and third before being optioned to Round Rock on June 15. Prior to the season, Garcia was named by Baseball America as the Fastest Baserunner and Best Infield Arm in the Rangers organization.

A native of Santiago, Dominican Republic, Garcia is a career .261 (476-1,824) hitter with 13 home runs, 144 RBI, 261 runs scored and 158 stolen bases in 483 games over five minor-league seasons. He has played in 402 games at shortstop, 63 at second base and 15 in center field.

Garcia, who has been successful on 78.6 percent (158-201) of his career stolen-base attempts in the minor leagues, was cited by Baseball America as the Fastest Baserunner in the Texas organization after the 2011-12 campaigns. He recorded 30-plus steals each season from 2010-12, including a career-high 51 in 2010.

Garcia will wear uniform No. 28.