Left-handed pitcher Brandyn Garcia played at the Master's School in Simsbury, Quinnipiac University and Texas A&M prior to turning pro.
SEATTLE, WA — Brandyn Garcia achieved a milestone in his sports career last month, when he was promoted within the Seattle Mariners' organization from Double-A Arkansas to Triple-A Tacoma, the highest level in minor league baseball. Little did he realize that his ultimate goal would be in his grasp just a few weeks later.
On Monday, the 25-year-old Granby resident was given the news every young boy dreams of hearing: his contract was selected by the parent club, and he was to report immediately to T-Mobile Park. Instead of preparing to come out of the bullpen during a 6-game series against the Round Rock Express, he would instead be facing a Milwaukee Brewers lineup led by slugging outfielder Christian Yelich.
"It’s unreal," Garcia told MLB Pipeline. "It’s always been a dream. I’m excited for it, I’m ready to go out there and compete."
Garcia did not have to wait long to receive his big league baptism. He entered Monday night's game to start the eighth inning, with the Mariners trailing 4-0. The first hitter he faced in the big leagues, Brice Turang, singled to left field, but was thrown out attempting to steal second. William Contreras smashed a double to deep right field, then Yelich bounced a slow tapper to the third base side of the mound. Garcia threw wildly past first base, allowing Contreras to score and Yelich to advance to second.
Yelich stole third, then came home with an unearned run on Jackson Chourio's infield single. Garcia then issued his first big league walk to Isaac Collins, then with Andrew Vaughn at the plate, he uncorked a wild pitch which moved Chourio to third, while Collins remained at first. The rally ended when Vaughn hit into a 6-4-3 double play.
Garcia threw 25 pitches in his debut, including 14 strikes, and was replaced by Carlos Vargas to start the ninth inning.
"It was great to see Brandyn out there and get a chance to get his feet wet," Mariners manager Dan Wilson told MLB.com. "Obviously, he probably didn’t want to give up the two runs, but I thought he threw the ball pretty well, his sinker was pretty good. Just a couple of bad-luck situations for him."
Though his indoctrination into the major leagues was a bit rough, Garcia's season at the highest two classifications in the minors has been remarkable. After getting a look by the parent club as a non-roster invitee to spring training, he began the year in Arkansas, compiling a 4-4 record and five saves in 24 relief appearances. He struck out 33 batters in 25 innings, averaging 11.8 strikeouts per 9 innings pitched.
With Tacoma, he won his only decision in eight games, with a 2.16 earned-run average. His combined minor league totals this season were a 5-4 record, a 3.51 ERA, five saves and 42 strikeouts in 33.1 innings.
Garcia played at the Master's School in Simsbury, then pitched three seasons at Quinnipiac University in Hamden, where he posted a 5-13 record in 24 games, including 19 starts. He played his final year of college ball at Texas A&M University, where he was converted into a relief pitcher.
His college statistics were, as one Seattle-based sports website described them, "underwhelming," but his 177 strikeouts in just under 149 innings impressed scouts from the Mariners' organization. In 2023, the 6-foot-4, 235-pounder was drafted by Seattle in the 11th round and assigned to the Mariners' rookie league team in the Arizona Complex League. He split the 2024 campaign between High-A Everett and Double-A Arkansas, combining for a 6-2 record, 2.25 ERA and 134 strikeouts in 116 innings.