LUIS GARCÍA NEWS

Nabs first steal of 2022 Garcia went 1-for-3 with a stolen base in Friday's 6-3 loss to the Marlins.

Impact The 22-year-old isn't known for his speed, and Garcia's first steal of the year in the majors came on his third attempt. He's otherwise been a force since being called up at the beginning of June, slashing .327/.336/.477 through 28 games with two homers, 11 RBI and 12 runs as he stakes his claim to the starting shortstop job in Washington.

JULY 2, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Heads to bench Garcia will sit Tuesday against the Pirates, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Impact Garcia was recalled at the start of June and found himself in the lineup for 25 straight games. His .337/.347/.500 line in those games represents a major improvement over the .254/.285/.395 line he managed in 110 games over the previous two years, though it does come with a fair amount of good fortune in the form of a .397 BABIP. Alcides Escobar will be the shortstop Tuesday.

JUNE 28, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Crosses plate three times Sunday Garcia went 3-for-4 with a double and three runs scored in Sunday's win over the Phillies.

Impact The 22-year-old shortstop continues to rake in his return to the majors. Garcia has produced multi-hit performances in six of the last 11 games, slashing .400/.413/.533 over that stretch with three doubles, a homer, four RBI and six runs. The only blemish on his resume is his 0-for-2 mark on stolen base attempts, but he doesn't project to be a speed threat -- Garcia's ability to make consistent hard contact will drive his fantasy value, and he boasts a 45.0 percent hard-hit rate this season with the Nationals.

JUNE 20, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Pops second homer Garcia went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 8-2 loss to Atlanta.

Impact Not much went right for the Nationals in this one, but Garcia at least took Spencer Strider deep in the fifth inning. The young shortstop has hit safely in six straight games, and since his promotion at the beginning of June he's slashed a dazzling .352/.368/.519 with two homers, six runs and nine RBI through 14 contests.

JUNE 16, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Named everyday shortstop Manager Dave Martinez committed to Garcia as the Nationals' primary shortstop Wednesday, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

Impact Garcia has performed well as an everyday player for Washington while filling in for Alcides Escobar (hamstring), and Martinez confirmed Wednesday that Escobar will be used as a utility man upon his return while Garcia remains in an everyday role at shortstop. Garcia is slashing .353/.358/.471 with a homer, three doubles, eight RBI and five runs with the major-league club this year.

JUNE 15, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Pops first homer of season Garcia went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Tuesday's 12-2 loss to the Marlins.

Impact He spoiled Edward Cabrera's shutout bid in the sixth inning, giving Garcia his first homer in the majors this season. The 22-year-old appears to have no intention of going back to Triple-A, reeling off three straight multi-hit appearances and batting .391 (9-for-23) with six RBI in six games since his promotion.

JUNE 8, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Returns to big leagues The Nationals recalled Garcia from Triple-A Rochester on Wednesday. He'll start at shortstop and bat seventh in Washington's series finale with the Mets.

Impact Since Washington placed Alcides Escobar (hamstring) on the 10-day injured list in a corresponding move, Garcia could be in line to step in as the team's primary shortstop, with Dee Strange-Gordon representing more of a utility option than a legitimate threat for an everyday role at this stage of his career. A poor spring kept him from making the Opening Day roster, but the 22-year-old has hit his stride at the dish through the first two months of the season at Triple-A. Over 193 plate appearances with Rochester, Garcia slashed .314/.368/.531 with eight home runs and a stolen base.

JUNE 1, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Returns to lineup Garcia (wrist) is starting Thursday's game at Triple-A Rochester.

Impact Garcia hyperextended his left arm during a collision at first base Tuesday, but he'll be back in action after missing just one game. The 22-year-old is slashing .331/.387/.576 with eight homers, 35 runs, 27 RBI and a stolen base in Rochester this year and will likely be in consideration for a call-up soon.

MAY 26, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Dealing with wrist injury Garcia sustained a wrist injury Tuesday while playing for Triple-A Rochester, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.

Impact He exited the game after colliding with the opposing first baseman and is out of Wednesday's lineup. It's unclear how serious the injury is, but it seemed a call-up for Garcia was imminent, as he was hitting .331/.387/.576 with eight home runs in 37 games.

MAY 25, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Without his best stuff, Garcia provides length TORONTO -- The growing pains are far from over for Luis Garcia. For a second consecutive start, the sophomore righty allowed a pair of home...

MAY 1, 2022 • MLB.COM

Analysis ' As Nats' bats flail, prospect Luis Garcia mashes in minors. But there's a catch. Luis Garcia, one of the Nationals' top prospects, is off to a fast offensive start at Class AAA Rochester. But defensive questions remain.

APRIL 29, 2022 • WASHINGTONPOST.COM

Fast start at Triple-A Garcia went 2-for-4 with a double, a triple, two runs scored and three RBI for Triple-A Rochester on Sunday.

Impact The 21-year-old was something of a surprise demotion this spring as the Nationals decided he needed more development time in the minors, but Garcia is doing everything he can to prove the club made a mistake. He has five multi-hit performances in his last six games for Rochester, and through 12 contests on the season he's slashing a stellar .377/.411/.623 with three doubles, two triple and two homers. Neither Cesar Hernandez (.250/.280/.250 through 50 plate appearances) nor Alcides Escobar (.156/.229/.188 through 35 PAs) have done much at the plate in the majors, so if Garcia keeps raking, he could get another chance in the majors soon enough.

APRIL 18, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Optioned to Triple-A The Nationals optioned Garcia to Triple-A Rochester on Monday, Matt Weyrich of NBC Sports Washington reports.

Impact Manager Dave Martinez said over the weekend the young infielder was unlikely to make Washington's Opening Day roster, and Garcia was then included among nine players cut from big-league camp Monday. The 22-year-old appeared in 70 major-league games last season and hit .242/.275/.411 with six home runs and 22 RBI in 247 plate appearances. Garcia is likely to see the big leagues at some point in 2022, but Alcides Escobar and Cesar Hernandez are set to open the campaign as the starters in the middle infield, with Ehire Adrianza filling a utility role.

MARCH 28, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Unlikely to make Opening Day roster Manager Dave Martinez indicated Saturday that Garcia will likely begin the season at Triple-A Rochester, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

Impact While Martinez didn't explicitly commit to Garcia starting the regular season in the minors, he referred to the 21-year-old as the "future" middle infielder for the Nationals and said that he wants Garcia to get regular at-bats somewhere. Garcia has appeared in five spring games this year and has gone 1-for-9 with a double, a run, an RBI, a stolen base and three strikeouts. Assuming Garcia reports to the minors ahead of Opening Day, Ehire Adrianza would likely be in line to serve as one of the top utility options for Washington.

MARCH 26, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Returns to lineup Garcia (illness) is starting Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Astros.

Impact Garcia dealt with a stomach bug for several days after being removed from Monday's lineup against the Cardinals. His brief absence shouldn't impact his availability for Opening Day as he competes for a roster spot during camp.

MARCH 24, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Dealing with stomach flu Garcia was removed from Monday's starting lineup against St. Louis due to a stomach bug, Joe Trezza of MLB.com reports.

Impact This is reassuring news for the Nationals, as Garcia will likely miss only a few days at most while recovering. While he is younger and more likely to be a part of the next good Nationals team than Cesar Hernandez or Alcides Escobar, it sounds like Garcia needs to go out and win a starting spot this spring, otherwise he will open the year at Triple-A.

MARCH 22, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Scratched from lineup Garcia has been scratched from Monday's Grapefruit League lineup against the Cardinals for an unspecified reason.

Impact Garcia was initially slated to play shortstop and bat ninth Monday, and it's not clear whether his removal from the lineup is due to an injury. Lucius Fox will take over at shortstop while batting ninth.

MARCH 21, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Not guaranteed roster spot Garcia could wind up beginning the season at Triple-A if he doesn't prove to manager Dave Martinez he's ready for an everyday role, Jessica Camerato of MLB.com reports.

Impact Prior to Friday's spring-training opener against the Marlins, Martinez indicated that he viewed veteran Alcides Escobar as his starting shortstop, not Garcia. "I want to make sure that Luis, when he's in the big leagues, that he's going to stay," Martinez said by way of explanation. "I really don't want him to platoon; I want him to play every day. And he did a lot better last year against left-handed pitching, which was good, so I want to see him consistently do the little things every day." The 21-year-old Garcia was assumed to be the replacement for Trea Turner at short as the Nationals re-tool around younger players who can grow along with Juan Soto, so Martinez's statement could be seen simply as a way to motivate the youngster at the beginning of camp. On the other hand, Garcia's .242/.275/.411 slash line in 70 big-league games last season does suggest he still has plenty to learn at the plate, even if a return to Triple-A seems unnecessary after he posted a .303/.371/.599 line with 13 homers in 37 games for Rochester in 2021.

MARCH 19, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Expected to settle in at shortstop Nationals manager Dave Martinez said Sunday that Garcia, who finished the 2021 season on the injured list with a strained oblique, is healthy again and will focus on playing shorts...

Impact Martinez added that Garcia will continue to get reps at second base as well, but the skipper noted that the 21-year-old slimmed down this offseason with the aim of improving his agility and being better equipped to handle shortstop. Even if Garcia isn't able to show enough defensive polish to stick at shortstop throughout the season, he should have a consistent role at one of the everyday spots, as the Nationals can always shift Cesar Hernandez over to third base to open up the keystone for Garcia if needed. While Garcia's production over his first two seasons with Washington hasn't been particularly fantasy-friendly, the fact that he's already accrued 386 plate appearances in the majors at an age when most his contemporaries are in the lower levels of the minors bodes well for his long-term outlook.

MARCH 14, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

2021 BBWAA Award Finalists List Announced Monday, Nov. 15 AL Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year — Randy Arozarena, Tampa Bay; Wander Franco, Tampa Bay; Luis Garcia, Houston...

NOVEMBER 9, 2021 • SANDIEGOUNIONTRIBUNE.COM

Moves to injured list Garcia was placed on the 10-day injured list Sunday with a strained left oblique.

Impact Garcia will end up missing the final three games of the season due to the oblique injury. The 21-year-old appeared in 70 games this season and posted a .242/.275/.411 slash line with six homers, 18 doubles, 22 RBI and 29 runs in 247 plate appearances.

OCTOBER 3, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Not starting in finale Garcia (ribs) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Red Sox, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Impact Garcia didn't play in either of the first two games of the weekend while contending with soreness in the left side of his ribcage, and Washington will presumably look to stay away from him in its season finale. Assuming Garcia goes unused Sunday, he'll wrap up the 2021 campaign with a .242 batting average to go with six home runs, 29 runs and 22 RBI across 247 plate appearances in 70 games.

OCTOBER 3, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Battling rib issue Garcia remains out of the lineup Saturday against Boston due to soreness in his rib cage, Maria Torres of The Athletic reports.

Impact Garcia will miss his second straight game with the issue, and it's very possible he's already played his last game of the season, as the Nationals have no reason to risk him aggravating anything on the last day of the campaign. If that's the case, he'll end the year with a .242/.275/.411 line across 70 games. Jordy Mercer will make another start at second base in his absence.

OCTOBER 2, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Not starting Friday Garcia is out of the lineup Friday against the Red Sox.

Impact Garcia started the past 11 games and will head to the bench after hitting .298/.313/.468 with one homer, five doubles, 10 RBI and four runs during that span. Jordy Mercer will start at the keystone with lefty Eduardo Rodriguez pitching for Boston.

OCTOBER 1, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Hit streak ends Garcia went 0-for-4 with a strikeout Tuesday in the Nationals' 3-1 loss to the Rockies.

Impact Garcia has now been held hitless just twice in his last 11 games, with the 21-year-old infielder slashing .295/.295/.455 to go with a home run, nine RBI and three runs over that stretch. The strong finish to the campaign should put Garcia on the radar as a late-round flier in deeper mixed leagues heading into 2022.

SEPTEMBER 29, 2021 • ROTOWIRE