Maikel Garcia of the Kansas City Royals slides into second base for a double during the 1st inning of the game against the Seattle Mariners at Kauffman Stadium on August 16, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
By Matthew Tallarini
World Baseball Network
Kansas City Royals infielder Maikel Garcia will play for Tiburones de La Guaira in Liga Venezolana de Beisbol Profesional for his fourth consecutive year during the 2023-24 winter league season, the team announced on Thursday.
Garcia, 23, was born in La Sebana, Venezuela, and has been with the Kansas City Royals organization since he signed as an international free agent to a minor league contract when he was 17 years old on July 27, 2016.
Garcia played in 58 games last season, helping Tiburones reach the LVBP Championship Series against Leones del Caracas while batting .323 with 250 plate appearances and recording 65 hits, 13 doubles, five triples, four home runs, 33 RBI, 10 stolen bases, and 46 walks with a .942 OPS.
In the LVBP Championship Series that went to six games, Garcia batted .318 recorded seven hits, one home run, one RBI, eight walks, and seven strikeouts along with a .955 OPS.
Garcia started the 2023 season in Triple-A Omaha, playing in 24 games and batting .242 in 112 plate appearances recording 23 hits, seven doubles, one home run, 17 RBI, and 16 walks before he was called up to the majors on May 2.
Garcia has played in 88 games with the Royals this year batting .285 with 368 plate appearances recording 95 hits, 16 doubles, two triples, four home runs, 40 RBI, 18 stolen bases, and 25 walks including a .711 OPS.
Garcia has split time defensively between shortstop, third base, and second base this season during his time with the Royals.
Last season, Garcia made his Major League debut on July 15, 2022, against the Toronto Blue Jays on the road after he was called up from Double-A Northwest Arkansas.
Garcia played in nine major league games last season and batted .318, recording seven hits, one double, two RBI, one walk, and five strikeouts before he was sent back down to Triple-A Omaha after August 17, 2022.
Last season between Triple-A Omaha and Double-A Northwest Arkansas, Garcia suited up for 118 games with 555 plate appearances and batted .285 with 139 hits, 34 doubles, one triple, 11 home runs, 61 RBI, 39 stolen bases, and 58 walks.
In three seasons in the winter leagues, Garcia has played in 105 games batting .332 and recording 120 hits, 21 doubles, seven triples, four home runs, 54 RBI, 14 stolen bases, and 65 walks including a .891 OPS.
The 2023-24 Liga Venezolana de Beisbol Profesional winter league season will start in October during the middle of the Major League Baseball Playoffs. The 2023-24 season schedule will be announced in the next few weeks.