J. Garcia leaves Cuba, hopes to join MLB

24-year-old outfielder is younger brother of Braves third baseman Adonis

August 30th, 2016

Cuban outfielder Jose Adolis Garcia has left Cuba in hopes of signing with a Major League team, a source confirmed to MLB.com on Tuesday.
Garcia, 24, is the younger brother of Braves third baseman .
The right-handed hitter was ranked No. 20 in the April 2015 Cuban player rankings by Baseball America, who first reported the news.
The 6-foot-1, 175-pound Garcia possesses above-average speed and a plus arm. He hit .319/.399/.523 in Cuba in 2015 with 14 home runs, 34 walks and 59 strikeouts. He was also 11-for-17 in stolen bases.
Garcia most recently played this summer for an affiliate of the Yomiuri Giants in Japan before he was released after hitting .234/.274/.396.
Defensively, Garcia has played mostly in the corner outfield, though he displayed enough athleticism in center during international events that he could get a look there.
Garcia is not subject to Major League Baseball's international bonus rules because he has left Cuba; however, he must establish residency in another country before becoming eligible to sign.
He will no longer be eligible to play for Cuba in the 2017 World Baseball Classic. He helped Cuba earn a bronze medal in the 2015 Pan American Games.