Diamondbacks’ Brandyn Garcia had a whirlwind week making MLB debut, getting traded
Pitcher Brandyn Garcia made his major league debut and was traded to the Diamondbacks in the same week as he looks to get his feet wet in MLB.
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Ten days ago, current Arizona Diamondbacks reliever Brandyn Garcia was pitching for the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers as a prospect working his way up to the major leagues.
Within a seven-day span since then, Garcia was called up to the big leagues by the Seattle Mariners, made his debut, was optioned back to Triple-A, got traded by Seattle to Arizona for Josh Naylor, was optioned again, got recalled and debuted for the Diamondbacks.
“It was crazy, a wild week,” Garcia told Arizona Sports’ Burns & Gambo pregame on Tuesday. “I didn’t really know what to feel. It was so quick. Everything happened so fast that I had no idea really how to feel about it. But obviously there was a lot of excitement. … Getting here in the clubhouse, meeting all the guys, it’s a great time and I’m so grateful for the opportunity.”
Even the way he was called up was dramatic, as Tacoma manager John Russell told Garcia that Double-A Arkansas needed arms before pausing and telling him to get to Seattle, according to MLB.com.
Garcia is a 6-foot-4, left-handed reliever with a sidearm motion that he uses to unleash a 97 mph sinker.
The 25-year-old’s D-backs debut went well on Sunday in Pittsburgh, as he threw a scoreless inning with a lead-off walk, double play and another ground out. It was his third MLB appearance, as the Diamondbacks for the time being will rely on him to fill a role in the bullpen.
His second outing with the club did not go as planned with three runs allowed on Tuesday in Detroit.
“ I think every time I go out there now, it’s just getting more and more comfortable,” Garcia said. “The first few times there were a lot of nerves out there. I know there’s a lot of guys that can just go up there and do amazing the first time. I’ve always dreamt about making my debut and getting three strikeouts … but it’s baseball, so things happen, hits happen. I’m not perfect. So it’s one of those things where it’s just getting more comfortable every time I go out there and get into the best version of myself.”
Diamondbacks LHP Brandyn Garcia, acquired for Josh Naylor, is getting his feet wet in the major leagues.
He tells @BurnsAndGambo about the adjustment.
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Arizona acquired Garcia and 21-year-old right-handed pitcher Ashton Izzi from Seattle for Naylor.
He is a sinker-slider/sweeper pitcher, but he said there is a changeup and a four-seamer he has in the back pocket to use if he starts at some point down the road.
Garcia explained that he’d love to get back to starting games at some point as he did last season, but the focus is on doing what he can to produce out of the bullpen.
“I’m trying to help the team win as many games as possible,” Garcia said. “If that’s in the bullpen or if that’s starting, I’ll do whatever it takes.”
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