García's confidence has never been in doubt

There is a word Luis García keeps using when talking about himself: confidence.

He uses it not as some means of bragging about his immense talent and reputation at the ripe age of 20, but rather to explain how he managed to hold up during his first season in the major leagues and, at times, even thrive.

"At every level I've played at, I've always told myself: 'It's the same baseball,' " the Nationals infielder said last week via interpreter Octavio Martinez, during a Zoom session with reporters. "No matter where I am or what level I play at. So nothing (last season) took me by surprise. I did learn to have confidence in myself. I feel like I lacked a little bit coming up in the minors that I learned it up there: To trust myself and have confidence in myself more."

Spend any amount of time watching García play or interacting with teammates and it's hard to believe the young man has ever lacked for confidence. He carries himself like someone who has already proven himself at the big league level, even though he's played all of 40 games for the Nats.

But there's the outward confidence all top prospects must display to survive as professional athletes, and then there's the inward confidence that's actually necessary to succeed at the highest level, especially when things aren't going as well.

García has a whirlwind 2020. It began with his first big league spring training, during which he seemed to be trying to take after Juan Soto both in mannerisms and batting stance. A few months later, with the minor league season canceled, he joined other prospects and veterans at the Nationals' alternate training site in Fredericksburg. He even got to travel as a member of the newly formed taxi squad, designed to ensure potential call-ups were available on site in case a major leaguer had to go on the injured list.

And wouldn't you know what happened next. On Aug. 14, the Nationals were at Camden Yards to complete a game that had been suspended the previous week, then once that was completed move straight into their regularly scheduled game against the Orioles.

During the completion of the suspended game, Starlin Castro broke his right wrist trying to make a play in the field. The Nats needed a new second baseman for the nightcap. García was already in Baltimore as a member of the taxi squad. About an hour later, he was making his big league debut, starting at second base, the youngest player in the majors.

"I've been thinking about it and realized how rare it is," García said. "I try not to focus on that, but every now and then I do like to think about how rare it is that I'm up here at this level at this age."

García would spend the rest of the season in the majors, starting at second base most nights. And given the circumstances, he acquitted himself quite well. Across 139 plate appearances, he hit .276 with six doubles, two homers, 16 RBIs and a .302 on-base percentage. He didn't draw many walks, and he didn't hit for a lot of power, but he handled the situation well and showed club officials he was mature enough to be a big leaguer at such a young age.

"You know, we've got to remember that he's so young and he's still developing," manager Davey Martinez said. "He did well for us last year in a short period of time. We're talking about 162 games now. But he's got a lot to learn."

That's why you don't hear much coming out of the Nationals coaching staff or front office about García making the opening night roster. As is always the case with top prospects, they want him to play every day. And if that isn't going to happen in the majors, they will make sure it happens in the minors.

This hasn't been formally conveyed to García, but he's smart enough to understand the situation. He's trying not to think much about proving himself as big league material this spring and insists he won't be upset if and when he's told he's being sent down.

"No, it would not be difficult at all," he said. "I've always told myself that I'm going to control what I can control. And everything else that I can't control, I'm not going to worry about. I'm here to help the team in any way that I can to help them win. And so that's one of those things that it's not going to be difficult for me, if that were to happen."

How does García remain so calm about it? In a word, confidence. He already had it before making his major league debut last summer. And his subsequent experience only solidified that feeling.

"The one thing I learned the most is confidence in me," he said "Just having, telling myself to have more confidence in myself. That's by far the thing I learned the most."