Baseball America Nats No. 2 prospect: SS Luis Garcia

By Byron Kerr

Nationals

March 12, 2020, 7:55am

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No. 2 Luis Garcia

Baseball America Nats correspondent Lacy Lusk says shortstop Luis Garcia didn't get off to the best start last season, but then was able to hit better as the year progressed.

Garcia hit .241 with no homers and 12 RBIs in the first half of 2019. In the second half, he hit .272 with four homers and 18 RBIs. He was able to drop his strikeout total in the second half from 47 to 39. Lusk says Garcia is a top-notch prospect, but said she would not put him in the elite category just yet. Baseball America's latest list rates the 19-year-old shortstop as the No. 2 Nats prospect.

"I wouldn't expect a Juan Soto or a Victor Robles every time out," Lusk cautioned. "I would temper that and say he's a notch below that, but he looked really tremendous as a young guy in the Carolina League in 2018. But this past year struggled in the first half at Harrisburg. His numbers in the second half looked a little more like I would expect, where he could build on that this coming season and then be a part of the Nationals infield maybe starting the year after that."

The experts generally regard Garcia and infielder Carter Kieboom as the top two Nats prospects again this season. ESPN MLB Insider Kiley McDaniel has Garcia and Kieboom in his latest Top 100.

It is likely that Garcia will get more time at Double-A Harrisburg this season, work up to Triple-A Fresno, and be on the short list for an opportunity with the Nats should one arise during this season, or even during September call-ups.