It’s a Happy Harvey Day for Orioles fans Monday, as the Dark Knight rises for a start at Camden Yards against his former cross-town rival Yankees – but it’s also a Happy Deivi Day for Yankees fans, who will see phenom pitcher Deivi Garcia make his 2021 debut on the hill for the Bombers.
Garcia made six regular-season starts with the Yankees last season, but his last one, in the postseason, was one of the most debated outings in franchise history: his appearance as an “opener” of sorts in Game 2 of the ALDS. However, that memory is long gone for Deivi, who knew he would be getting an MLB outing at some point during this Yankees road trip, and prepared accordingly.
“I’m looking forward to it. I wanted to prepare myself as best as I could to look forward to an outing like this, and getting going in the regular season,” Garcia said Sunday through team interpreter Marlon Abreu. “My preparation has been normal, like I’m getting ready for any start.”
Garcia came into spring training hoping to win the final spot in the Yankees’ rotation, but Domingo German’s strong spring, combined with some struggle for Garcia, led to Deivi heading to the Alternate Site – an outcome he understood completely.
“It was just a normal conversation when they told me, and like last year, I saw it as an opportunity to work on my pitches and add more quality to them,” Garcia said. “I did that last year, and again this year, with the expectation that at some point I would get a shot to come back and contribute here.”
The Alternate Site model isn’t quite true game simulation, although the Yankees have been able to play three games a week against the Phillies’ alternate site group, but it has given Garcia a chance to work on a couple things in a less stressful setting.
“I did want to focus a little on my slider, which I’ve been using a lot; just a tiny adjustment on my grip,” he said. “I like it, and I want to get better with it, and see which situations in the game I can use it. And, the changeup has been a weapon for me, because I have been able to use it more this year and become more confident in it.”
The Yankees’ rotation hasn’t been as hoped so far this year – non-Gerrit Cole starters are 2-7 with a 5.51 ERA, and have pitched an average of just over 4 1/3 innings in their 15 starts, with only two quality outings between them – and Garcia is hoping to make a case to be more involved as the season goes on.
“I’ve moved forward in my development as a pitcher, and I’m just more mature,” he said. “When you have the experience I had last year, it allows you to make better decisions, and execute better pitches.”
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