The Chicago White Sox have claimed outfielder Willy Garcia off waivers from Pittsburgh and have designated outfielder Jason Coats for assignment.
Garcia, 24, was designated for assignment by the Pirates on December 31. The 6-foot-2, 215-pound Garcia spent the entire 2016 season at Class AAA Indianapolis, batting .245 (113-462) with 30 doubles, six home runs, 43 RBI and 53 runs scored.
Garcia is a career .257 (680-2,641) hitter with 79 homers, 367 RBI and 336 runs over seven minor-league seasons after signing with the Pirates as a non-drafted free agent on April 26, 2010. He was rated byBaseball America prior to the 2015 and 2016 seasons as the No. 12 Prospect in the Pittsburgh organization and possessing the Best Outfield Arm prior to the 2015 campaign. Garcia also was named to the Eastern League All-Star Team with Class AA Altoona in 2014.
Coats, 26, spent most of the 2016 season with Class AAA Charlotte, batting .330 (98-297) with 22 doubles, 10 home runs, 38 RBI and 44 runs scored over 78 games. He also appeared in 28 games with the White Sox in his major-league debut, going 10-50 (.200) with one homer and four RBI.
The White Sox 40-man roster remains at 40.