Christian J. Garcia...is a 2004 graduate of Gulliver (FL) Prep, where he was a catcher until converting to the mound as a senior (credits Gulliver head coach Lazaro Collazo with making the conversion)...in Spring of 2004, helped pitch Gulliver to a State 3-A Championship, which was played at the Spring Training home of the Yankees, Legends Field in Tampa...was scheduled and signed to attend South Carolina, but instead inked a pro contract with the Yankees.
2013
Spent '13 on the Nationals' Disabled List (right forearm strain)...was originally placed on the DL on March 24 (retroactive to March 22)...during a trio of rehab assignments, posted a 2.70 ERA (4 ER/13.1 IP) in 11 games/4 starts for Triple-A Syracuse (4 games, June 8-July 7), Double-A Harrisburg (3 games, May 31-June 5) and Short-season Single-A Auburn (one game, Sept. 3)...participated in Nationals Instructional League camp.
2012
Not only reached big leagues for first time in 9th pro season, pitched well enough to earn a spot on the Nationals' roster for the NLDS vs. STL...in
12.2 big league innings, fanned 10.7 per 9.0 innings...had contract selected by the Nationals on September 3...made MLB debut by retiring only
batter faced, Sept. 4 vs. CHI...in 45 combined games for the Nationals' top 2 affiliates-Triple-A Syracuse (International League) and Double-A
Harrisburg (Eastern League)-posted a 0.86 ERA and struck out 11.4 per 9.0 innings...didn't allow a homer in 52.1 minor-league innings...was
promoted to Triple-A for the first time of career at the beginning of June.
2011
Signed with the Nationals as a minor-league free agent in July...by season's end posted a 2.66 ERA in 11 relief appearances with Auburn of the
Short-season Single-A New York-Penn League and the Nationals' Rookie-level Gulf Coast League entry...struck out 30 in 20.1 innings (13.3 per
9.0 innings pitched).
2010
Started just one game (April 8 vs. Erie) for Trenton of the Double-A Eastern League before succumbing to a right elbow injury that required 2nd
career "Tommy John" procedure...was released by the Yankees in mid-May.
2009
Was limited to just five starts with Double-A Trenton, going 2-0 with a 0.71
ERA... allowed only 2ER in 25.1IP with 24K... did not allow a run in his first two starts,
combining to toss 9.1 shutout innings...Opened the season on the disabled list with right elbow tendinitis... was reinstated
on 5/20 and joined Trenton... returned to the D.L. on 6/11 for the remainder of the
season with a right elbow strain.
2008
Combined to go 4-4 with a 4.33 ERA in 14 appearances (13 starts) with Single-A
Tampa, the GCL Yankees and Double-A Trenton, striking out 74 batters in just
62.1IP... opponents batted .278 (68-for-245, 5HR); LH .214 (21-for-98, 1HR), RH .320
(47-147, 4HR)...Began the season on the disabled list with right shoulder inflammation... was
reinstated from the D.L. on 5/17 and made the start that day for Tampa at Fort Myers,
allowing 6H and 1ER in 4.2IP (2R, 1BB, 1HP, 6K)... in 10 overall starts with Tampa, was
4-2 with a 2.90 ERA, striking out 60 batters in 49.2IP (17BB)...Held opponents to 3ER or less in nine of his 10 starts and 2ER or less eight times with
Tampa...Was placed on the disabled list for the second time in 2008 from 6/9-8/4 with right
elbow inflammation... began a rehab assignment with the GCL Yankees on 7/21,
making three starts and going 0-2 with a 14.73 ERA (7.1IP, 19H, 12ER, 3HR, 2BB, 4HP,
9K)... was returned from rehab on 7/31 and assigned to Tampa... struck out a seasonhigh-
tying 10 batters on 8/26 at Dunedin (also 5/22 at Daytona w/ Tampa)...Was transferred from Tampa to Trenton on 9/1... made one relief appearance with
the Thunder, holding Connecticut to 4H and 2ER in 5.1IP (6BB, 5K)... also made one
postseason start with the Eastern League champions, allowing 6H and 4ER in 4.0IP
in the no decision on 9/10 at Akron in Game 2 loss...Tabbed as having the best curveball among Yankees prospects by Baseball America
following the season.
2007
Missed the entire 2007 season recovering from right elbow surgery performed on
11/21/06... during rehab, underwent surgery on his right knee on 8/10/07... entered
the season ranked as the Yankees' sixth-best prospect by Baseball America.
2006
Split time between the Yankees' Gulf Coast squad and Single-A Charleston,
posting a 2-4 combined record with a 4.75 ERA in 12 games (10 starts)... missed the
first four months of the season while on the disabled list with a strained oblique
muscle... made five starts for West Oahu in the Hawaiian Winter League, posting a
2-0 record with a 3.05 ERA and 23K in 20.0IP... entered the season ranked by Baseball
America as the Yankees' eighth-best prospect.
