The Washington Nationals selected the contract of infielder Luis GarcÃa and placed infielder Starlin Castro on the 10-day Injured List (broken right wrist) on Friday. Additionally, the Nationals transferred left-handed pitcher Sam Freeman to the 60-day Injured List (left flexor mass strain). Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcements.
GarcÃa, 20, is considered the No. 2 prospect in Washington's Minor League system, according to both Baseball America and MLBPipeline.com. Entering the 2020 season, Baseball America named him the "Best Hitter for Average" and the "Best Defensive Infielder" among Nationals Minor Leaguers. In addition, the magazine named him the "Best Infield Arm" in Washington's system.
In 2019, GarcÃa was named the Washington Nationals Minor League Defensive Player of the Year. He spent the entire season with Double-A Harrisburg and led them with 129 games played, 135 hits, four triples (tied), 11 stolen bases and 66 runs scored. At 19-years-old, he was the youngest player in the Eastern League, where he ranked tied for second in hits and seventh in runs scored.
GarcÃa has hit .281 with 51 doubles, 13 triples, 12 homers, 106 RBI, 57 walks, 34 stolen bases and 173 runs scored in 305 career Minor League games. He was signed by the Nationals as a non-drafted free agent on July 2, 2016.