García was let go by 2 teams, and now he’s in World Series
Adolis García has gone from twice being designated for assignment to becoming a recordsetting AL Championship Series MVP who is now in the World Series, all after the slugger defected from Cuba in hopes of playing in the big leagues.
“It was a long journey. It was a tough decision that I made at the time,” García said through a translator Thursday. “It’s definitely been worth it. I think if I had the opportunity to do it all over again, I definitely would, because it’s been reteammate Randy Arozarena of pursing the big leagues. ally good.” as an ALCS MVP; Aroza“Once I won the MVP, after
For both the 30-year-old rena achieved the feat with that season, that’s where I García and the Texas RangTampa Bay in 2020. The kind of knew that I had the ers. García has helped the Rays played in that neuskill to be over here and Rangers reached the Fall tral-site Fall Classic followplay.” Classic for the first time ing the Covid-impacted The Rangers acquired since 2011 with his big bat season at the same retractGarcía for cash in Decemand passionate approach. able-roof stadium where the ber 2019 after he was des
“He’s the best, man. He’s Rangers will host Game 1 ignated for assignment by a great teammate,” desigon Friday night. the Cardinals and went nated hitter-catcher Mitch “He’s someone who unclaimed. He spent most Garver said. “He’s overcome knows me, knows my abilof the 2020 season at the a lot, that’s for sure. ... He’s ities, knows what I can do,” Rangers’ alternate training just incredible.” García said of Arozarena. site, and struck out in four
García set a series re“He just told me about the of his six big-league at-bats. cord with 15 RBIS in the experience, the emotions, When Texas had to make AL championship against how it’s going to be out room on its 40-man roster Houston is just one short of there, and that I was going at the start of spring trainanother mark with his 20 to be somebody who will reing in 2021 for journeyman overall in the postseason. ally enjoy it.” right-hander Mike FoltyneHe extended his home run Arozarena and García wicz — who went 2-12 with streak to four games by gowere together in the St. a 5.44 ERA that season and ing deep twice in Game 7 as Louis organization, but both hasn’t pitched in the big the Rangers won at defendwere let go after the 2019 leagues since — the Ranging champion Houston and season, when García had ers designated García for asbecame the first player with two hits and seven strikesignment. While talented, RBIS in six straight games outs while getting only 17 he lacked consistent contact within a postseason series. plate appearances in his and again wasn’t claimed.
There was also the grand first big league action. García went to spring slam in the ninth inning of García had been the MVP training as a non-roster inthe must-win Game 6 after in Cuba’s top professional vite and hit .375 with three striking out the first four league before being allowed homers, 13 RBIS and four times that night. That folby the Cuban government to stolen bases in 22 games. He lowed the emotional Game play in Japan in 2016. But failed to make the Rangers’ 5 at home, when he hit a gohe never went home afopening day roster but was ahead homer punctuated ter 32 games for the Yomicalled up less than a month with a bat spike in the sixth, uri Giants in 2016, instead later, and now is a two-time then got plunked on the upmoving to the Dominican All-star with 97 homers and per left arm by a 98.9 mph Republic and signing with 299 RBIS over the past three fastball his next at-bat. Garthe Cardinals as an interseasons. cía angrily went face-to-face national free agent in 2017. “I always knew what with catcher Martín Maldo“It’s something that with I could do in baseball. I nado as benches and bullmy skill set throughout my think I always trusted my pens cleared before the Asjourney in baseball, I could abilities and my skill set,” tros came back to win. kind of understand and see he said. “I always believed
Now he gets to play in that I would be able to do that the team would have theout.worldseriesafterjoin-somethinglikethatorgettrustinmeifiwasabletoingtohouston. ing former minor league to that stage,” García said show that.”