A Fan’s View

RHP Julian Garcia is one of the young players in the Phillies spring training camp who are assigned to Carpenter Complex.

By Steve Potter

25-year-old from Fort Collins, CO . . . Has pitched in Williamsport, Lakewood, Clearwater and Reading in four minor league seasons; 20–19 record, 3.37 ERA.

We first met Julian at Carpenter Complex shortly after he signed in June of 2016. He was selected in the 10th round of the 2016 draft out of Metropolitan State University in Denver. During our conversation we chatted about the future contract process and introduced him to his first agent, a friend of mine from Phantasy Camp who had just started in player representation. Julian eventually signed on with him as a client 🤓.

Shortly thereafter he went to Williamsport and pitched in 12 games, returned there in 2017 and made 13 starts posting a 3.90 ERA in 60 IP. The following season he was very successful as a starter/extended inning reliever at Lakewood where in 28 games he recorded a 2.54 ERA in 78 IP … the second half of the year was particularly strong when he joined the starting rotation making 8 starts … a 2.17 ERA and a 5–2 record in 54 IP. The 2019 season saw him begin at Clearwater and finish at Reading … overall a 3.78 ERA in 23 games — 22 starts (125.2 IP).

Julian is a strike-thrower; he rarely beats himself. His spin rate on both his fastball and secondary offerings earn high marks, the ball moves, has proven difficult to pick up for opposing hitters. Innings are usually limited in the modern era of the minor leagues for starting pitchers, but Julian has pitched five or more innings in 33 of his 47 career starts, six innings or beyond in 19 of them. I think he’d be a guy in throwback years that would be able to go deeper into games. He has averaged in the upper 80’s in pitch count over the course of his starts, has only been to 100 pitches once in his pro career.

We wish Julian well in his first big league camp experience … I’d think he’s in line to be part of the Reading rotation to start 2021 but could be higher in the ladder as well. It’s good to see him get a chance to show the big-league staff what he’s capable of.

Happy Day, Happy Baseball ⚾️

(Steve Potter began publishing Phillies Minor League Digest in 2016. Current edition — Life In The Minors — features the history of 115 Phillies minor league teams since there was no minor league baseball in 2020. Book now available on amazon.com in both color and black and white).