Luis Garcia Stats & Scouting Report — College Baseball, MLB Draft, Prospects

Track Record: The No. 3 prospect available in the 2016 international signing class, Garcia signed for $1.3 million and quickly showed that his skills could translate to pro ball with a strong debut season in the Gulf Coast League in 2017. He hit .298 in his full-season debut and even climbed to high Class A Potomac, where he was the only 18-year-old in the Carolina League.

Scouting Report: Garcia stands out for his excellent feel to hit, with impressive hand-eye coordination, a consistent lefthanded stroke and a strong understanding of what he's trying to do at the plate. Nationals coaches raved about his baseball IQ, and while they didn't directly compare him with Juan Soto, they did point out that he makes adjustments within at-bats in a similar manner. While Garcia doesn't have huge raw power, he homered seven times and scouts noticed increased physicality in 2018, giving him a chance for above-average power in the future. Garcia's run grades seemed to be universally lower than a year ago, when he was a plus-plus runner--now he's closer to above-average. Defensively, Garcia has the instincts and arm for shortstop, but he might profile better at second base as he continues to fill out.

The Future: Garcia should start the 2019 season with Potomac after just 40 games this season but could push his way to Double-A Harrisburg if he continues to hit.