Miami Marlins Swept at “Home” by Mets: Grading the Marlins

Jarlin Garcia +.334

Jarlin Garcia appeared in 68 games as a rookie last season for the Miami Marlins. In his first two appearances this season, he allowed just five hits and four walks in 10 innings of work, with two earned runs and eight strikeouts.

Garcia started game three against the Mets for his first career start. He put 44-of-77 pitches into the strikezone, earning a 75 GameScore. In six innings, he allowed just a pair of walks and struck three out. He was the first pitcher in major league history to make it through six innings with 77 or future pitches without allowing a hit and then watch his team lose.

Garcia put 43-of-67 pitches over the plate, and retired the first 15 batters he faced without allowing a baserunner. He surrendered a single and a pair of walks, but one of them was of the intentional variety.

Miami’s taken a lot of heat lately because of the now-famous fire sale. What Garcia shows is that home-grown talent can pan out.

Garcia was signed as an international free agent prior to the 2011 season for the then-Florida Marlins. He worked his way up through the system with stops for the DSL Marlins in 2011 and the GCL Marlins in 2012. He spent 2013 with the Batavia Muckdogs, 2014 with the Greensboro Grasshoppers, and 2015 between the Jupiter Hammerheads and the Jacksonville Suns.

In 2016, Garcia was sidelined most of the year with injury, but played at three levels for the Marlins before the winter break. He then plied his trade in both the Arizona Fall League and the Dominican Winter League. It paid off for him, and after three appearances for the renamed Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp last season, spent the year with the Marlins.

Garcia currently leads the NL with just 2.8 hits allowed per nine innings pitched.