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Cincinnati Reds: José Israel García “The finicky one”

By Yusseff Diaz

GOODYEAR, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 23: Shortstop Jose Garcia #83 of the Cincinnati Reds during a Cactus League spring training game against the Chicago White Sox on February 23, 2020 in Goodyear, Arizona. (Photo by Ralph Freso/Getty Images)
GOODYEAR, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 23: Shortstop Jose Garcia #83 of the Cincinnati Reds during a Cactus League spring training game against the Chicago White Sox on February 23, 2020 in Goodyear, Arizona. (Photo by Ralph Freso/Getty Images) /
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Jose Israel Garcia is opening eyes in spring training for the Cincinnati Reds.

José Israel Garcia has started this Spring training on fire. The number nine prospect in the Cincinnati Reds farm system is hitting an eye opening .400 and has launched two longballs to open the spring.

Garcia is living up to the potential Cincinnati envisioned when they signed him for 5 million in 2016.

But things weren’t always rosy for García in the minors during his time with Reds.

The Daryle Ward effect

“El Fino” (The finicky one) as he is known in Cuba started the 2018 season with the Dayton Dragons (A) in horrible fashion. In his first 60 games, the young prospect hit .202 and then Daryle Ward made him his project.

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“Daryle Ward worked on my deficiencies in general. He helped me with my mechanics and my approach. His help gave me a lot more confidence at the plate and we saw the results in the second half.”

“I made a few adjustments in my swing such as having a shorter leg kick, because my long leg kick was throwing off my timing and getting in the way of making contact. ”

He won the player of the week honors in August when he hit .500 with 13 hits the week of August 13-19.

Adjusting to a new culture

Being from a Caribbean Island it also took García a little time to get adjust to the climate of Ohio.

“Dayton is way colder than Havana. It took a lot of will power to get used my new surroundings and this might affected my performance. ”

Having a manager in José Bolívar that spoke Spanish also helped his transition,” I appreciate everything Bolívar did for me, he made things a lot easier for in Dayton. He helped plenty on and off the field.”

Goals for the season

García will start the season more than likely at either A+ or AA and his ETA for the Majors is 2021 but if he keeps hitting like he has the last two years he could make a case for an early call up. “My goal for the year is to post good numbers and earn a promotion,” said García.

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His position on the Cincinnati Reds prospect board could change depending on how he performs this season.

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