The Pittsburgh Pirates recalled outfielder Jhostynxon Garcia from Triple-A Indianapolis on Tuesday, a move made after Ryan O’Hearn’s right quad strain sidelined him for about four weeks and roster space was cleared by optioning Nick Yorke.
ST. LOUIS — By the time the Pirates took the field in St. Louis on Tuesday night, the decision had already been made in the quiet math of roster moves. Pittsburgh recalled outfielder Jhostynxon Garcia from Triple-A Indianapolis, stepping him into the majors as an outfield spot opened up.
Garcia, 23, had been acquired from the Boston Red Sox on Dec. 4 in a five-player trade that also involved Johan Oviedo. He is rated as the organization’s No. 4 overall prospect by both Baseball America and MLB Pipeline.
The immediate reason for the recall came from injury fallout. Ryan O’Hearn’s right quad strain is expected to sideline him for four weeks, and it created the opening for Garcia, who had a brief window of major-league experience last season. With Boston, Garcia went 1 for 7 in five games.
Against the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday night, Garcia started in right field and batted sixth.
“Just continue the same work habits that I’ve been doing, that sort of work plan, and just transfer that to the big leagues,” Garcia said through an interpreter.
His return to Pittsburgh’s radar has been fueled by recent production at Indianapolis. Since coming back from a rehab assignment for lower back tightness, Garcia has been hitting with power. In five games at Triple-A, he batted .375, going 6 for 16 with four RBIs. The run included a three-homer game on May 12.
To make room on the roster, Nick Yorke was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis after Sunday’s game. Garcia’s recall now turns that reshuffling into a live test: can the power he showed at Indianapolis carry over immediately into a major-league outfield role that suddenly needs to be filled?
Pittsburgh Pirates Jhostynxon Garcia Triple-A Indianapolis Ryan O’Hearn Nick Yorke St. Louis Cardinals MLB Pipeline Baseball America
Garcia to the majors already? Pirates always doing random stuff like this.
Wait so Ryan O’Hearn is hurt and they just throw this kid in right away? Sounds like they’re gambling because roster spots are tight. Also why is Nick Yorke getting optioned after one Sunday game lol
I swear I saw Garcia last year and he was already like, good?? then they sent him down. Now he’s batting sixth against the Cardinals like that’s supposed to fix everything. Quad strain for 4 weeks… yeah ok so they’re just gonna keep mixing players until one sticks.
Baseball America and MLB Pipeline says he’s No. 4 prospect but with only 1 for 7 last time? That math don’t add up. And ‘acquired from Boston’ like that automatically means he’ll hit now?? I don’t know, seems like the Pirates are just trying to cover for O’Hearn being out.