Blue Jays' Yimi Garcia: Notches first save of 2025
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Garcia struck out two in a perfect ninth inning Monday to record his first save of the season in a win over the Nationals.
Jeff Hoffman had pitched Saturday and Sunday, so Garcia got the call to protect a three-run lead Monday. The 34-year-old righty has been busy himself to begin the year, appearing in three of the Jays' first five games and posting a 4:0 K:BB over three scoreless innings. Garcia is locked into a high-leverage role and should see a handful of save opportunities the rest of the season when Hoffman is unavailable.
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Blue Jays' Yimi Garcia: Looks ready for Opening Day
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Garcia gave up a hit and struck out one in a scoreless inning of relief during Monday's split-squad game against the Yankees.
The veteran right-hander has been almost untouchable this spring, posting a 0.00 ERA and 9:0 K:BB through six Grapefruit League innings. Garcia has recorded double-digit holds in three straight seasons, and he seems likely to make it four straight as he gets ready to be the Blue Jays' top setup man ahead of new closer Jeff Hoffman.
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Blue Jays' Yimi Garcia: Back north of the border
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Garcia (elbow) signed a two-year, $15 million deal with the Blue Jays on Tuesday, Ari Alexander of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Garcia, who was traded from the Blue Jays to the Mariners shortly before the trade deadline, ended the year on the shelf with elbow inflammation. The 34-year-old righty had a 3.46 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, 49:12 K:BB and five saves in 39 innings last year before his elbow started barking. If he's healthy, Garcia could work as Chad Green's setup man or even challenge for a share of ninth-inning duties.
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Mariners' Yimi Garcia: Out for season
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The Mariners transferred Garcia (elbow) to the 60-day injured list Tuesday.
Garcia was shut down from throwing Tuesday after experiencing a setback during a bullpen session, and his move to the 60-day IL will officially prevent him from pitching again this season. He'll finish the 2024 campaign with a 3.46 ERA and 0.90 WHIP alongside a 49:12 K:BB across 39 innings. Seby Zavala was selected from Triple-A Tacoma to fill the opening on Seattle's 40-man roster.
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Mariners' Yimi Garcia: Begins throwing in Arizona
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Garcia (shoulder) has begun throwing at extended spring training in Arizona, MLB.com reports.
General manager Justin Hollander notes Garcia remains without a timeline for return, but there's still hope the right-hander will be able to pitch again at some point in September. Garcia was in the early stages of his Mariners tenure when the shoulder issue popped up, as he'd been acquired via trade from the Blue Jays on July 26 and had logged a total of nine innings across 10 appearances.
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Mariners' Yimi Garcia: Placed on injured list
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The Mariners placed Garcia on the 15-day injured list, retroactive to Tuesday, due to right elbow inflammation.
Garcia will go on the IL with elbow trouble for the second time this season. As a member of the Blue Jays, he landed on the shelf in June due to right elbow neuritis, and his return was delayed due to neck stiffness. He has struggled since joining the Mariners in late July, posting a 6.00 ERA and 1.22 WHIP across nine innings, and he has given up at least one earned run in each of his last three outings. Given his prior injury history, Garcia could be sidelined beyond the 15-day window, putting his availability for Seattle's playoff push in jeopardy. The Mariners recalled southpaw Gabe Speier from Triple-A Tacoma in a corresponding move.
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Mariners' Yimi Garcia: Gets 13th hold Thursday
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Garcia recorded his 13th hold of the season in a loss to the Tigers on Thursday, allowing an earned run on a walk over two-thirds of an inning.
Garcia issued an inning-opening walk to Austin Meadows in the eighth inning before retiring the next two batters, but Andres Munoz then surrendered a two-run home run to Javier Baez that allowed Meadows to cross the plate. Garcia has been charged with a combined three earned runs over the last two days and five overall in his last five appearances, a stark contrast to the four straight scoreless one-inning outings with which he opened his Mariners tenure.
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Mariners' Yimi Garcia: Strong start in Seattle
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Garcia recorded his 12th hold in a win over the White Sox on Sunday, firing a perfect eighth inning.
Garcia was just acquired via trade with the Blue Jays on Friday, and he's been put right to work with the Mariners. Sunday's stellar seven-pitch outing was preceded by Garcia's Saturday debut, when he earned his 11th hold with a pair of strikeouts over one clear inning. Garcia figures to see plenty of seventh- and eighth-inning work now that Ryne Stanek has been traded to the Mets, and he should also be in line for an occasional save opportunity on days Andres Munoz is unavailable.
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Mariners' Yimi Garcia: Headed to Seattle
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The Mariners acquired Garcia from the Blue Jays on Friday in exchange for outfielder Jonatan Clase and catcher Jacob Sharp, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Garcia has been one of the better relievers in baseball this season, posting a 2.70 ERA and 42:8 K:BB K:BB over 30 innings while recording five saves. He will be part of the late-inning picture in Seattle but will likely be behind Andres Munoz in the pecking order for saves.
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Blue Jays' Yimi Garcia: Returns from injured list
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The Blue Jays activated Garcia (elbow) from the 15-day injured list Friday, Kaitlyn McGrath of The Athletic reports.
Garcia has been sidelined since mid-June with right elbow ulnar neuritis and dealt with some neck stiffness during a brief rehab assignment. He's feeling good now, however, and should immediately be thrown back into the late-inning mix for the Blue Jays, perhaps even as the team's closer. Garcia boasts a 2.57 ERA, 0.79 WHIP and 37:7 K:BB over 28 innings this season.
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Blue Jays' Yimi Garcia: Could be activated Sunday
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Garcia (elbow) will join the Blue Jays ahead of Sunday's game in Arizona and could be activated from the 15-day injured list for the series finale with the Diamondbacks, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Garcia had his second rehab appearance pushed back twice due to neck stiffness, but he was able to pitch two-thirds of an inning Friday with Triple-A Buffalo. The 33-year-old has been shelved since June 17 due to right elbow ulnar neuritis. With Jordan Romano (elbow) likely out until September, Garcia could enter the second half of the season as the Blue Jays' closer.
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Blue Jays' Yimi Garcia: MiLB outing pushed back again
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Garcia (elbow) didn't make a rehab appearance Wednesday with Triple-A Buffalo as planned due to neck stiffness, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Garcia's rehab appearance has now been pushed back twice due to the neck issue that popped up Tuesday. He threw a side session instead to make up for not getting into a game and is now slated to pitch for Buffalo on Thursday, barring any further setbacks.
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Blue Jays' Yimi Garcia: Rehab appearance delayed
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Garcia (elbow) didn't pitch in a rehab game at Triple-A Buffalo as scheduled Tuesday due to neck stiffness, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Garcia's injury isn't considered to be serious, but the Bisons opted to hold him out of the game as a precaution. The 33-year-old reliever is now slated to appear in Wednesday's game, assuming he feels better by then. It's unclear how many additional rehab appearances he will need to make past Wednesday, though a return to Toronto before the All-Star break has not yet been ruled out.
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Blue Jays' Yimi Garcia: Making rehab appearance Saturday
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Garcia (elbow) will pitch for Triple-A Buffalo on Saturday, Kaitlyn McGrath of The Athletic reports.
Garcia isn't expected to require more than two rehab appearances, with Saturday's outing his first with Buffalo. With Jordan Romano (elbow) out for the foreseeable future, Garcia could step into the Blue Jays' closing role once activated from the IL.
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Blue Jays' Yimi Garcia: Requires rehab stint
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Garcia (elbow) will throw a bullpen session Wednesday and will need at least one minor-league rehab appearance before being activated, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.
If all goes well, Garcia would be sent out for a rehab assignment following Wednesday's bullpen session. While it's unclear exactly how many appearances he'll need in the minors, manager John Schneider indicated Garcia would need more than one outing before rejoining the active roster. Once he's healthy, Garcia could take over closing duties considering Jordan Romano (elbow) will be shut down from throwing for at least six weeks.
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Blue Jays' Yimi Garcia: Throws off mound
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Garcia (elbow) threw a bullpen session Sunday, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.
The reliever will throw another bullpen session Wednesday before the next steps in his rehab program are determined. Garcia has missed just two weeks with a nerve issue in his right elbow, so it's possible he'll skip a rehab assignment and return from the 15-day injured list whenever the Blue Jays feel that he's ready. With Jordan Romano (elbow) out indefinitely, Garcia should be back in the mix for saves once he returns, perhaps even as the club's top option. Chad Green has been serving as Toronto's closer since Garcia landed on the IL but hasn't received any save chances during that stretch.
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Blue Jays' Yimi Garcia: Long-tossing from 120 feet
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Garcia (elbow) has progressed to long-tossing from 120 feet, Kaitlyn McGrath of The Athletic reports.
Working his way back from right elbow ulnar neuritis, Garcia would seem close to throwing off a mound if he can continue to progress. He was closing for the Blue Jays before getting hurt a week ago and could eventually get that job back, although Jordan Romano (elbow) and Chad Green will be factors.
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Blue Jays' Yimi Garcia: Lands on IL with elbow injury
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The Blue Jays placed Garcia on the 15-day injured list Monday due to right elbow ulnar neuritis.
Garcia was forced out of his save chance in Sunday's 7-6 win over Cleveland after experiencing right elbow soreness. The MRI after Sunday's game showed no structural damage to Garcia's right elbow, but it did reveal ulnar nerve symptoms, per Hazel Mae of Sportsnet. While there was optimism that Garcia would be day-to-day with the injury, he will now be on the shelf until at least the beginning of July. With Jordan Romano (elbow) still on the IL, Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Monday that Chad Green will operate as the interim closer for Toronto, according to Mae.
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Blue Jays' Yimi Garcia: Day-to-day, no structural damage
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Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Monday that Garcia is considered day-to-day after an MRI on his right elbow revealed no structural damage but showed "ulnar nerve symptoms," Hazel Mae of Sportsnet reports.
According to Mike Wilner of the Toronto Star, the Blue Jays are describing the right elbow soreness that forced Garcia out of a save chance in Sunday's 7-6 win over the Guardians is being viewed as a "stinger." The club isn't too concerned about the injury, though Wilner notes that if Garcia hasn't made a full recovery by Friday, the Blue Jays won't hesitate to place him on the injured list. Schneider intimated that the Blue Jays will likely stay away from Garcia for at least Monday's game versus the Red Sox, with the skipper naming Chad Green as the team's interim closer for however long Garcia is unavailable. Before leaving early Sunday, Garcia had converted three consecutive save chances to solidify himself as the Blue Jays' preferred ninth-inning man while two-time All-Star closer Jordan Romano (elbow) remains on the IL.
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Blue Jays' Yimi Garcia: Grabs four-out save
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Garcia struck out three without allowing a baserunner over 1.1 innings to earn the save in Tuesday's 3-0 win over the Brewers.
Garcia inherited two runners from Trevor Richards in the eighth inning, and the Brewers pulled off a double steal to get them both in scoring position. It didn't matter, as Garcia struck out Blake Perkins before pitching a clean ninth to get the four-out save. This was Garcia's fifth save of the year, three of which have come in June while Jordan Romano (elbow) has been on the injured list. Garcia has added nine holds and one blown save while pitching to a 1.98 ERA, 0.66 WHIP and 37:7 K:BB through 27.1 innings this season. As long as Romano is out, Garcia appears to be the top option for saves in the Toronto bullpen.
