Yankees definitely fast tracking prospect Deivi Garcia

At 19, right-handed pitching prospect Deivi Garcia has three plus pitches, that when combined with his excellent composure, could lead to the Yankees to continue his rapid promotion through the minor leagues.

Ranked as the Yankees No. 4 prospect and 61st overall in baseball by Keith Law of ESPN, Deivi Garcia won’t turn 20 until May 19; however, he’s just been promoted to Double-A, where the average of players age is 24.

Following a brief cameo in Trenton last September, when he tossed five no-hit innings, Garcia opened the 2019 season back at High-A Trenton.

It took just four starts for the Yankees brass to realize Garcia was ready for his next challenge. In those four appearances, although he went 0-2, it was his other stats that jumped off the page; 3.06 ERA with a 33:8 K:BB ratio and no home runs allowed across 17.2 innings.

In 74 total innings last season, Garcia climbed three different levels of ball, culminating in a 5-4 record, 2.55 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, .189 BAA and 105:20 ratio in only 15 starts.

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And so, on Wednesday afternoon, Garcia made his season debut for the Thunder, flashing some of the ability that has Yankee fans licking their chops.

Though the teenager would inevitably take the loss while allowing five walks and a grand slam in only four innings (96 pitches, 61 strikes), Garcia still managed to strike out 11 men (nine swinging).

Mixing a high-90s fastball with an impressive curveball that features dramatic spin-rate, should Garcia continue to refine his changeup and keep the ball on a flat plane, the skies the limit for the Dominican native.

Telling Greg Johnson of the Trentonian that he “was a little surprised” to be promoted so early in the season, Garcia is comfortable to be back in a place where he feels he can take the next step in his career.

“I feel that the fact that I was here last year gives me a little better feel for the place and the teams and the environment. It definitely gives me more confidence,” Garcia said through a translator. “I understand that I need to be more cautious with my pitches, but I’m going to still attack just the same way I did. I’m just going to continue making good pitches like I’ve been doing.”