Jhostynxon Garcia wasted no time putting Pirates on notice after return

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Look, the jokes write themselves, but Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Jhostynxon Garcia's journey to MLB is no laughing matter. Garcia is forcing his way out of Triple-A Indianapolis in the best of ways, as he had three home runs in a five-hit night on Tuesday.

The Pirates acquired Garcia from the Boston Red Sox outfield factory this past winter in a trade that shipped Johan Oviedo up to Boston. Garcia is an MLB-level outfielder at his best, but couldn't win a roster spot out of spring training. He's the team's fifth-ranked prospect per MLB Pipeline and could make his Pirates debut as early as late May or early June, especially if he keeps hitting like this.

Jhostynxon Garcia is earning a Pirates roster spot the hard way

As talented as Garcia is, breaking through in the Pirates outfield is easier said than done right now. Ryan O'Hearn, Oneil Cruz and Bryan Reynolds are guaranteed spots in the lineup unless one of them goes down with an injury, which is surely not the way most fans would want to see Garcia finally get the call.

While all three of those players have faults defensively, Garcia is only a 50-grade defensive outfielder himself. What he does bring is a great arm and a whole lot of power, which was evidenced on Tuesday.

What's most impressive about Garcia's home runs wasn't just the sheer number of them or distance, but the exit velocity. Garcia's bat speed and barrel rate have both increased in Indy of late, and his 100-plus MPH home runs show just how well he's seeing the ball down on the farm.

Whether it's enough to force his way on the Pirates roster depends on the performance of his counterparts. Is Garcia a better option than, say, Billy Cook or Jake Mangum? Cook is a liability at the plate and doesn't receive many opportunities, but he's also an important culture fit who carries the burden of the Pirates traffic cone on his shoulders.

While one breakout performance will help Garcia's case, Tuesday's outing alone won't force Ben Cherington's hand. Instead, he will have to be patient to earn a spot in a crowded outfield, especially once Mangum returns from injury. Garcia only just made his return to Triple-A, of course, which will give the notoriously-cautious Cherington every excuse to let him linger in the minor leagues, rather than forcing a promotion that could be short term in nature.

The Password is best-suited for a corner outfield spot despite his willingness to play center in the past. Garcia has bulked up to 225 pounds, which is a stark difference from when he entered pro ball at just 165. His raw power is what sets him apart as a prospect, and the struggles of one Marcell Ozuna or any of Pittsburgh's reserve outfielders is his best chance to realize that potential at PNC Park.

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