Robert Garcia (baseball)

Robert Christopher Garcia (born June 14, 1996) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Washington Nationals of Major League Baseball (MLB). The Kansas City Royals selected Garcia in the 15th round of the 2017 MLB draft. He made his MLB debut in 2023 with the Miami Marlins.

Amateur
Garcia attended Modesto Christian High School in Modesto, California, and lettered in baseball in each of his four years. He attended the University of California, Davis, where he played college baseball for the UC Davis Aggies. In 2016, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Wareham Gatemen of the Cape Cod Baseball League.

Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals drafted Garcia in the 15th round, with the 450th overall selection, of the 2017 Major League Baseball draft. In 2017 with the rookie–level Arizona League Royals and rookie–level Idaho Falls Chukars, he was a combined 2-5 with a 10.17 ERA in 54 innings in which he gave up 81 hits and a 2.019 WHIP.

Garcia spent the 2018 campaign with Idaho Falls and the Single–A Lexington Legends. In 23 appearances split between the two affiliates, he accumulated a 1.94 ERA with 49 strikeouts and 4 saves across $46 1⁄3$ innings pitched.

In 2019 with the High–A Wilmington Blue Rocks, he was 4–2 with a 4.93 ERA in 35 relief appearances. Garcia did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the 2021 season, with the Double–A Northwest Arkansas Naturals, he was 4-3 with a 5.63 ERA in 33 games.

Miami Marlins
On December 8, 2021, the Miami Marlins selected Garcia from the Royals in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft. In the 2022 season with the Triple–A Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, he was 1-5 with a 4.06 ERA in 44 games. He was assigned to Jacksonville to begin the 2023 season. In 27 games, he recorded a 2.95 ERA with 54 strikeouts and two saves in $36 2⁄3$ innings pitched.

On July 7, 2023, the Marlins promoted Garcia to the major leagues for the first time. He made his major league debut on July 14. For the season for the Marlins, he pitched to three batters in one game, giving up a hit and a walk and getting one out.

Washington Nationals
On August 1, 2023, Garcia was claimed off waivers by the Washington Nationals.

Personal life
Garcia is married to Paige and they have two children: a daughter named Adalynn and a son named Andrew. Adalynn Marie was born on October 24, 2020. Andrew Christopher was born on October 6, 2023.