Despite his team being in the hunt for a wild-card spot, Baltimore Orioles manager Buck Showalter said he plans to use Rule 5 pitcher Jason Garcia, according to the Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun. Garcia was activated off the disabled list on Thursday.
In Garcia, Baltimore has a talented, yet unproven, commodity. The 22-year-old's fastball touches the high-90s, however, control issues have plagued him so far this season. The right-hander has a 5.52 ERA with 11 hits and 12 walks allowed in 14 2/3 innings.
In order to hold on to Garcia for 2016 and beyond, the Orioles must keep him on their roster for the remainder of the season.
Connolly explains the situation, noting that Showalter has gone down this path before with Rule 5 picks Ryan Flaherty and T.J. McFarland:
- "[Garcia] will pitch for the Orioles. It's impossible, [Showalter] said, to hide a pitcher in the majors these days. 'He'll pitch. You can't play in the American League without seven pitchers pitching,' Showalter said. ... 'You can say the same thing about Flaherty and McFarland [being in the majors] and they were contributors. So maybe a year or two from now we'll be saying the same thing about Jason,' Showalter said."
