LUIS GARCÍA NEWS

Third straight two-hit effort Garcia went 2-for-5 with a solo homer run in a 7-5 win over the Marlins on Wednesday.

Impact Garcia strung together his third consecutive two-hit performance, including a homer off Miami starter Elieser Hernandez in the fourth inning that extended Washington's lead to 4-0. Garcia is hitting .286 with 12 extra-base hits over 77 at-bats in September, and he's driven in a run in four straight games.

SEPTEMBER 23, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Extends RBI streak Garcia went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored Tuesday in the Nationals' 7-1 win over the Marlins.

Impact Garcia has plated a run in three consecutive contests and four of his last five, and his improved production at the plate of late coupled with his stable role should put him in consideration for a pickup in deeper mixed leagues where available. He'll start at second base in Wednesday's series finale in Miami, batting eighth.

SEPTEMBER 22, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Sitting Saturday Garcia is not in Saturday's lineup against the Rockies, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Impact Garcia has now been out of the lineup for two of the team's last three games, though he did appear as a pinch hitter Wednesday. Jordy Mercer will start at second base in Garcia's place.

SEPTEMBER 18, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Riding pine Wednesday Garcia isn't starting Wednesday's game against the Marlins, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Impact Garcia will get a rare day off after he went 3-for-11 with a homer, two runs and a strikeout across the last three games. Jordy Mercer will start at the keystone and bat seventh.

SEPTEMBER 15, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Pops fourth homer Garcia went 2-for-5 with a double, a solo home run and an additional run scored in Thursday's loss to Atlanta.

Impact Garcia is quietly putting together a nice little stretch as the regular second baseman for Washington; he's now 14-for-44 with nine extra-base hits (seven doubles, one triple, one homer) in his last 10 games. He's not much of a stolen-base threat, but it's nice to see Garcia enjoy some big-league success after his initial struggles upon breaking in at age 20.

SEPTEMBER 10, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Offensive slide continues Garcia went 0-for-4 with a strikeout in Sunday's 9-4 loss to the Mets.

Impact Garcia closed the weekend with back-to-back hitless games, dropping his average to .211 in August. Though the 21-year-old is viewed as a cornerstone in the Nationals' middle infield for years to come and is locked into an everyday role, he's not yet producing enough to warrant interest outside of NL-only leagues.

AUGUST 30, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Flashes newfound power Garcia went 2-for-4 with two solo home runs in Wednesday's 9-5 loss to the Phillies.

Impact The 21-year-old took Chase Anderson deep in the second inning before turning around a Matt Moore offering in the seventh. Garcia showed signs of emerging as a power threat at Triple-A this season, launching 13 homers in 37 games, and he's carried that forward into his latest stint in the majors, going yard three times in the last six games. He's still a work in progress at the plate, but Garcia's development will be key for the Nats' offense as the team rebuilds around Juan Soto.

AUGUST 5, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Shifts to shortstop Saturday Garcia got the start at shortstop Saturday and hit fifth, going 1-for-4 in a 6-3 loss to the Cubs.

Impact Alcides Escobar, who was the shortstop Friday, got the night off while Adrian Sanchez took over at second base. With Trea Turner (COVID-19) now a Dodger, Garcia could be the Nats' shortstop of the future, but the team will likely spend the next two months deciding which middle infield position is the best fit as his long-term home. The 21-year-old is batting only .200 (6-for-30) in the majors this year, but his .303/.371/.599 slash line with 13 homers in 37 games for Triple-A Rochester represented a huge step forward in his offensive development.

AUGUST 1, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Homers in second inning Garcia went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and a strikeout in Friday's 4-3 win over the Cubs.

Impact Garcia was called up by the Nationals on Wednesday, and he put the team on the board with his first home run of the season Friday. The 21-year-old will likely serve as the primary second baseman for the major-league club after Trea Turner (illness) and Josh Harrison were recently traded.

JULY 31, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Called up by Washington Garcia was recalled from Triple-A Rochester on Wednesday, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

Impact The 21-year-old had a brief stay in the majors in mid-June and will rejoin the big-league club Wednesday after Trea Turner tested positive for COVID-19. Garcia could see some playing time until Turner is cleared to rejoin the team, though his exact role may not come into focus for a bit until the extent of the potential COVID outbreak is known.

JULY 28, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Returns from injured list Garcia (undisclosed) was reinstated from the 7-day minor-league injured list Tuesday, Matt Weyrich of NBC Sports Washington reports.

Impact Garcia had been out since June 25 due to an unspecified injury, but he returned to the lineup at Triple-A Rochester on Tuesday and went 0-for-3. The 21-year-old should be available for the minor-league club going forward and could return to the big-league roster at some point.

JULY 14, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

On shelf at Triple-A Garcia has not played for Triple-A Rochester since June 25 due to an undisclosed injury, Sal Maiorana of the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle reports.

Impact The 21-year-old homered in his first at-bat June 25, his fourth long ball in three days at Triple-A, but then exited the game and hasn't suited up since. The injury explains why Garcia wasn't called up recently when the Nationals dealt with some injuries on their infield, notably to Trea Turner. Until the team released word on what Garcia is dealing with, there's no way to predict when he might see game action or when he might be in line for a return to the majors, but his .383/.456/.767 slash line over 15 games in June for Rochester was very encouraging.

JULY 6, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Moves back to Triple-A The Nationals optioned Garcia to Triple-A Rochester on Sunday.

Impact Garcia looked like he could be moving into a large-side platoon role last week when Starlin Castro landed on the restricted list, but Castro was only away from the team for two days. With Washington back at full strength in the infield, playing time wasn't going to be available for Garcia, who will head back to the minors in order to play on an everyday basis.

JUNE 20, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Takes seat Friday Garcia is out of the lineup Friday against the Mets.

Impact The 21-year-old was expected to start against right-handed pitching with Starlin Castro (personal) on the restricted list, but lefty Joey Lucchesi is starting for New York. Castro was actually reinstated to the active roster Friday, though he'll sit for a day before rejoining the lineup while Jordy Mercer starts at third base. According to Maria Torres of The Athletic, a return trip to the minors wouldn't be surprising for Garcia since Washington is back up to full strength in the infield. The Nationals also likely will need outfield depth with Andrew Stevenson (oblique) sidelined.

JUNE 18, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Likely to play regularly vs. RHPs Garcia, who was called up from Triple-A Rochester on Wednesday, is expected to see regular starts at second base versus right-handed pitching while Starlin Castro (personal) remain...

Impact The 21-year-old will occupy the keystone and bat sixth Wednesday against the Pirates, while Jordy Mercer picks up the start at Castro's normal spot at third base. Meanwhile, Josh Harrison is sitting out the series finale in what amounts to a rest day, but he should be a fixture in the lineup against both right- and left-handed pitching. The lefty-hitting Garcia and righty-hitting Mercer will likely form a de facto platoon, with Garcia starting at second base and Harrison starting at third base versus right-handed pitching.

JUNE 16, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Recalled by Nationals Garcia was recalled by the Nationals on Wednesday, Maria Torres of The Athletic reports.

Impact Garcia was sent to Triple-A Rochester at the end of May, and he hit .319 with three home runs, two doubles, 11 RBI and nine runs in 11 games during his most recent stint in the minors. He'll likely fill a depth role for Washington while Starlin Castro (undisclosed) is on the restricted list.

JUNE 16, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Optioned to Triple-A Garcia (hamstring) was optioned to Triple-A Rochester on Sunday, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

Impact Garcia left Saturday's matinee with a hamstring cramp but didn't appear off the bench in Sunday's loss to the Brewers. He'll now return to the minors after he went 1-for-5 with a triple, a run and a strikeout in three appearances during his stint with the major-league club.

MAY 30, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

MRI comes back negative Manager Davey Martinez said Sunday that Garcia's MRI on his hamstring came back negative, confirming that it was simply a hamstring cramp that forced him to leave Game 1 of Saturda...

Impact Garcia did not play in Saturday's night cap and he is not in the lineup Sunday. However, given Martinez's update, the infielder seems to have a good chance of being available off the bench in the series finale against the Brewers.

MAY 30, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Not starting Game 2 Garcia (hamstring) isn't starting the second game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Brewers, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Impact Garcia left Saturday's matinee with a hamstring cramp and will undergo an MRI, so his exclusion from the lineup for Game 2 isn't very surprising. Jordy Mercer will take over at second base and bat eighth.

MAY 29, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Getting MRI on hamstring Garcia will undergo an MRI on his hamstring Sunday after exiting Saturday's game against the Brewers with a bad cramp, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

Impact The severity of the injury and Garcia's expected return date should become clearer following the test. The 21-year-old had only returned to the big-league roster Tuesday but was making his second start in a row in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader.

MAY 29, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Exits with apparent injury Garcia exited Saturday's matinee against the Brewers in the top of the third inning with an apparent right leg injury, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Impact Garcia was warming up ahead of the top of the third inning but went to the ground and called for a trainer. The team's medical staff appeared to be examining his right hamstring area, but the exact nature and severity of the injury aren't yet clear.

MAY 29, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Called up by Nationals Garcia was recalled by the Nationals on Tuesday, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

Impact Garcia has a fair amount of prospect pedigree and is still just 21 years old, but he's shown very little in 46 major-league games thus far in his career. His poor 75 wRC+ at least comes with a respectable .270 batting average, but his .299 on-base percentage and .355 slugging percentage are both far from good enough. A .235/.293/.426 line in 17 games for Triple-A Rochester to start this season hardly suggests he's about to break out. Victor Robles (ankle) landed on the injured list in a corresponding move.

MAY 25, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Bound for taxi squad The Nationals optioned Garcia to their taxi squad Monday.

Impact Garcia will surrender his spot on the 26-man active roster with Josh Harrison set to return from the COVID-19 injured list ahead of Monday's series opener versus the Cardinals. After joining the Nationals for Opening Day while 11 players were on the shelf due to COVID-19-related concerns, Garcia appeared in six games and went 1-for-7 at the dish. He'll likely head to the Nats' alternate site in Fredericksburg once the team's series in St. Louis concludes Wednesday.

APRIL 12, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Not starting in season opener Garcia isn't included in the lineup Tuesday for the Nationals' season opener versus Atlanta, Matt Weyrich of NBC Sports Washington reports.

Impact Dave Martinez suggested Monday that Garcia would likely be the team's Opening Day starter at second base while Josh Harrison is on COVID-19 injured list, but those plans changed after Trea Turner was able to avoid the IL. Turner was absent Monday when the Nationals were cleared to resume workouts, but he's since been given the green light to join the big club for Opening Day after passing through all COVID-19 protocols. With Turner locked in at shortstop, Hernan Perez will shift over to second base, bumping Garcia to the bench in the process. Garcia looks like he could serve as a utility option in the infield until one or both of Harrison and Jordy Mercer return from the COVID-19 IL.

APRIL 6, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Joining Opening Day roster Garcia will be recalled from Triple-A Rochester ahead of Thursday's season opener against the Mets, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

Impact The 20-year-old initially missed the Opening Day roster and was optioned to the minors over the weekend, but he'll rejoin the big-league club with multiple players sidelined due to a positive COVID-19 test and the subsequent contact tracing. Garcia is likely to fill a depth role in the infield, but there's a chance he could see some playing time depending on which players are unavailable.

MARCH 31, 2021 • ROTOWIRE