Pittsburgh Pirates: Examining Potential Swingman Pitching Prospects

Nick Garcia

The Pirates drafted Nick Garcia in the third round of the 2020 draft. Coming out of Chapman University, Garcia tossed 83 total innings pitching both as their closer in 2019 and then moved to the rotation to the starting rotation in 2020. All told, he had a phenomenal 1.19 ERA,35.4% strikeout rate, and 6.3% walk rate. Those were both good marks, but he allowed zero home runs in 83 straight innings.

Last year, the 22-year-old pitched in 21 games and started 13 of them. But he struggled to the tune of a 4.22 ERA, 4.99 FIP, and 1.35 WHIP. He did have a solid 24.8% strikeout rate and 1.08 HR/9, but he had a poor 10.4% walk rate. But there is reason to believe Garcia can improve moving forward.

He still had a phenomenal 50.5% ground ball rate and 16.7% line-drive rate. Both of which are excellent marks. He has a four-pitch mix that includes a fastball, slider, curveball, and change-up. Only throws in the low-to-mid-90’s (has topped out at 98 MPH), but averages out with 2550 RPM. He is tied with Jared Jones and Michael Burrows for the highest spin fastball in the organization. The only offering that doesn’t project as at least average is his curve, which is a projected-45 future grade.

Garcia will turn 23-years-old on April 20th. He’s a good candidate to start the year out at High-A Greensboro, possibly even Double-A if the Pirates decide to be more aggressive. His role as a pitcher isn’t defined yet. He started the year in the bullpen then moved to the rotation. Like with all the other guys we’ll be talking about today, he could be one of those arms that makes some starts here and there and pitches out of the pen.