Luis Garcia Injury Update: What Happened To Luis Garcia Astros Pitcher?
by Aishwarya R
Updated May 02, 2023
Who is Luis Garcia?
Luis Heibardo Garcia, a professional baseball player from Venezuela, has proven to be a valuable asset to the Houston Astros team. Born on December 13, 1996, Garcia signed with the Astros in 2017 as an international free agent and made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut in 2020. Prior to that, he played in the minor leagues for various teams including the DSL Astros, Quad Cities Rivers Bandits, Tri-City Valleycats, and Fayetteville Woodpeckers.
Since joining the Houston Astros, Garcia has amassed an impressive win-loss record of 26-18, with an earned run average of 3.60 and 337 strikeouts. He has also become one of the team's top players and made his debut as a starting pitcher. Additionally, Garcia has represented his home country by playing for Team Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic (WBC), where he contributed to their 5-1 victory by striking out seven batters in one relief appearance. It is expected that Garcia will continue to be a valuable member of the Houston Astros team.
Luis Garcia Injury Update
Luis Garcia, the starting pitcher for the Houston Astros, left the game against the San Francisco Giants on Monday due to right elbow discomfort, which was announced by the team. The pitcher was only able to throw eight pitches before being examined by a team trainer and leaving the game. This comes shortly after Jose Urquidy, another Astros starter, was placed on the 15-day injured list due to right shoulder discomfort, leading to Brandon Bielak's recall from Triple A to take his spot on the roster.
Garcia reported feeling pain in his elbow after throwing the fifth pitch of the game, but he did not hear a pop. An MRI will be conducted on Tuesday to assess the severity of his injury. Brandon Bielak took over for Garcia and pitched for four innings.
During the game, catcher Martin Maldonado signaled to the Astros' dugout after Garcia's eighth pitch, an 82.9 mph cutter that was fouled by Thairo Estrada. Following a brief meeting on the mound, Garcia left the game and headed to the clubhouse while shaking his head.
The injuries to both Urquidy and Garcia highlight a problem that the Astros chose not to address during the winter season. Instead of signing a major league starter in response to losing Justin Verlander to the New York Mets, the Astros relied on internal options and the hope of replicating the exceptional health of their pitching staff from last season, with five of them pitching at least 145 innings, which is an unsustainable and anomalous scenario.
What Happened to Luis Garcia Astros Pitcher?
For the second consecutive night, a Houston Astros starting pitcher has left a game due to an injury. In the game against the San Francisco Giants on Monday night, Luis Garcia exited the game after throwing only eight pitches due to elbow discomfort. This followed Jose Urquidy's exit from Sunday night's game against the Philadelphia Phillies due to a shoulder injury, which resulted in him being placed on the injured list on Monday.
Garcia's final pitch was a slower 82.9 mph cutter, compared to his average of 85.4 mph this season. He immediately called for a trainer after huddling with his teammates on the mound. Interestingly, Garcia has never been on the injured list in his career, either in the majors or the minors.
The Astros are already dealing with injuries to Urquidy and Lance McCullers Jr. who suffered a forearm strain in spring training and has not pitched this season. They are currently one of only eight teams to use five starters this season, but Urquidy's injury will require a change in the rotation. Brandon Bielak, a right-hander, was called up from Triple-A to fill Urquidy's spot on the roster and replaced Garcia in the game on Monday. Bielak was prepared to pitch 75 pitches.
Garcia, who pitched for Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic this spring, has a 4.00 ERA in five starts and 27 innings this season and a 3.61 ERA in 352 career big league innings since 2020.
The Astros entered Monday with a 15-13 record, and they are currently two games behind the Texas Rangers in the AL West. Their pitching staff has allowed the sixth-fewest runs per game in baseball this season, with an average of 3.79.
Luis Garcia Networth
Luis Garcia is currently under a one-year contract with the Houston Astros, which he signed in 2023. The contract is worth $763,200, with the entire amount being guaranteed. Garcia's average annual salary is also $763,200. He is set to become an unrestricted free agent in 2027. As part of the contract, Garcia will earn a base salary of $763,200 in 2023. This amount is also the same as his luxury tax salary, payroll salary, and adjusted salary. His yearly cash earnings for 2023 will be $763,200, with no signing bonus included. Garcia signed this contract before becoming eligible for arbitration.
Name
Luis Garcia
Position
Starting Pitcher
Age
26-146d
Experience
2.083 Years
Bat/Throw
Right/Right
Country
Venezuela
Agent(s)
(Topline Sports)
Estimated Net Worth
$1.5 million
Luis Garcia Networth
Luis Garcia Injury Update - FAQs
Luis Garcia is a professional baseball pitcher who currently plays for the Houston Astros in Major League Baseball (MLB).
Luis Garcia's net worth is estimated to be around $1.5 million.
Luis Garcia has been playing in the MLB since 2019.
Luis Garcia primarily relies on his four-seam fastball, slider, and changeup pitches.
Prior to his recent elbow discomfort, Luis Garcia had never been placed on the injured list in his professional baseball career.