Current Contract
Contract renewable through 2011.

**40-Man Roster**

Became a Cardinal
Selected in the 22nd round (680th overall) of the June, 2005 First-Year Player draft.

2008 Season
Consider the Cardinals best pitching prospect, with it being a bonus that he's a left-hander, Garcia made his major league debut in 2008 in July. He pitched in 10 games in the majors, including one start, posting a record of 1-1 with a 5.63 ERA. Garcia spilt playing time in the minors between Springfield and Memphis posting a combined minor league record of 7-6 with a 3.65 ERA. Expected by many to be a key member of the Cardinals pitching staff in 2009, Garcia's season in 2008 was cut short in early September because of ligament replacement surgery on his pitching elbow. Garcia will likely miss most, if not all of the 2009 season, rehabbing from his surgery at the Cardinals training complex in Jupiter, Florida, while the Cardinals look outside the organization for some lefties to add to the major league staff in 09.

2007 Season
Garcia was leading the Texas League in strikeouts (97) and ranked 10th in earned run average on July 18, 2007 before the organization shut him down over concerns with pain in his left elbow. Garcia will start the 2008 campaign with Double-A Springfield.

Career Notes
Garcia began the 2006 season with low Class A Quad Cities and went 5-4 with a 2.90 ERA, allowing 67 hits, striking out 80 and walking 18 in 77.2 innings pitched while opponents hit just .229 against him in 13 starts. He was promoted to high Class A Palm Beach on July 23 and went 5-4 with a 3.84 ERA, striking out 51 and walking 16 in 77.1 innings pitched. He was named to the All-Star Futures Game in July, but did not appear in the game.

Garcia led all Cardinals minor league pitchers with 131 strikeouts, his 10 wins T-4th in the system and his combined ERA of 3.37 ranked 8th.

Although he worked out with the rookie level Johnson City Cardinals team, Garcia did not make a regular season appearance due to work visa issues in 2005. He did participate in the Florida Instructional League following the season, however, and he struck out 18 in eight innings pitched while not allowing an earned run. He allowed just three hits and two walks.

Player Awards
Birdhouse Top 40 Prospect 2008: #3
Birdhouse Top 40 Prospect 2007: #3
Birdhouse Top 40 Prospect 2006; #37
Futures Game (World) 2008
Futures Game (World) 2006
PCL Pitcher of the Week 06/02-08/08/08)
Texas League Mid-Season All-Star 2007
Mid-West League Mid-Season All-Star 2006
Cardinals Minor League Pitcher of the Month - April 2006

Photo: St. Louis Cardinals