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Wednesday, 08 September 2010 13:24 |
By Geri Falzon
Back in June of 2003, Iona Gales shortstop Travis Garcia was selected by the New York Mets in the First-Year Player Draft. Seven years later, he finds himself fighting to get back on track to fulfill his dream of playing in the big leagues.
The two-time Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference First-Team honoree, Garcia completed his junior year hitting .323 while leading the team in runs scored. His solid hitting and fielding opened the eyes of local scouts leading to the Mets signing the young shortstop and placing him on the Brooklyn Cyclones Mets (A) of the Penn League under then manager Tim Teufel.
During his stint with the Cyclones, Garcia received limited playing time which led to him being sent to rookie ball on the Kingsport Mets of the Appalachian League.
“It was a major letdown,” said Garcia. “I feel I wasn’t focused on and really never got a good opportunity to prove what I could do.”
Following stops in Brooklyn and Kingsport, Garcia bounced around within the Mets organization playing for the Capital City Bombers, and Port St. Lucie Mets. His career in the Mets system lasted a little over two seasons and Garcia found himself playing an independent ball for the Ohio Valleys Redcoats and the Chillicothe Paints in the Frontier League with hopes of catching the eye of another major league organization.
Unfortunately for Garcia, that opportunity did not present itself, and in 2008, the 26-year old shortstop joined the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs of the Atlantic League.
“It’s the best league to be in,” said the shortstop. “You play against good talent every day and with so many former major leaguers the games are very competitive. It raises the level of your game and it has definitely helped me.”
Garcia admits his progress is also attributed to influence of Blue Crabs manager Butch Hobson. “The best compliment you can give a manager is that he brings the best out of you as a ballplayer.” Garcia added, “He is definitely the best player/manager I have ever had. He tells you like it is, yet helps you like you are his own son.”
In 2009, under the guidance of Hobson, Garcia was enjoying a stellar season. He quickly found himself as the early front-runner for the Atlantic League’s Most Valuable Player with his .353 batting average, 16 homeruns and 63 runs batted in.
Garcia’s impressive stats that not only got the attention of opposing pitchers and managers throughout the Atlantic League, it attracted scouts from the Seattle Mariners organization. And in July of 2009, Garcia was offered a contract by the Mariners and was reported to the West Tennessee Jaxx, the organization’s AA-affiliate.
“I got the taste of what a real organization is like,” said the Bronx native. “They take care of all of their players from the top to the bottom of the roster. Honestly, it was a breath of fresh air.”
However, under manager Phil Plantier, Garcia played in 44 games for the Jaxx hitting only .258 with four homeruns and 22 RBI’s.
In March of 2010, Garcia re-signed with Southern Maryland and is currently the starting of the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs of the Atlantic League. He has nothing but good things to say about his experience in the Mariners organization.
“I enjoyed my time with the Mariners,” said Garcia. He went on to explain, “They gave me a fair chance and I didn’t do what I should have done and that’s why I am back in the Atlantic League.”
Garcia realizes what he needs to accomplish to have another opportunity in joining a major league organization.
“I am doing everything I can to improve my game,” Garcia said. “I was able to pick Jason Lane’s brain a little while he was here. It’s always good to be around former major leaguers. You hope you learn something that will help you to get to the next level.”
Although Garcia’s numbers this season are down a little, he was named as the starting shortstop in the Atlantic League All-Star Game. It was also a proud moment for his father who sat and watched his son play in the mid-season classic.
“My dad was a good athlete himself,” said Garcia. “His friends said he was a great baseball player and an awesome basketball player. He always wanted me to be a baseball player and he definitely pushed me the most.”
Garcia admits his upbringing was also a major factor in becoming not only a good ballplayer but also a good person off the field.
“I am the son of a pastor – my mom,” said Garcia. “I was born and raised in the church so I am not your proto-typical city kid.”
Growing up in the Bronx, Garcia naturally supported his hometown Yankees and their All-Star shortstop. “I definitely admired Derek Jeter,” said Garcia. “He was my role model. He is the man.”
Now at age 28, Garcia knows it’s now or never if he is to get another shot at the big leagues.
“In this league, I am average age or maybe a little on the younger side,” stated the shortstop. “Now is definitely the time to make the best of my opportunities.”
Looking ahead to the day when his playing days come to an end, Garcia feels he can one day offer his experiences in a coaching capacity.
“I think I would be interested in coaching on the college level,” said Garcia. “I can definitely impact some ballplayer’s lives by giving them the knowledge I picked up playing professional ball.”
But until then, he is focused on his dream.
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