Garcia struck out 75 batters in 59.2 innings for Nationals in 2024
Arlington, Texas — The Texas Rangers announced today that the club has acquired left-handed pitcher Robert Garcia from the Washington Nationals in exchange for first baseman Nathaniel Lowe.
Garcia, 28, posted a 3-6 record with a 4.22 ERA (28 ER/59.2 IP) over a career-high 72 relief appearances for the Nationals last season, tying for the fifth-most appearances among MLB left-handed pitchers in 2024. He ranked among club relievers in strikeouts per 9.0 innings (1st, 11.31), appearances (2nd), strikeouts (2nd, 75), and innings (4th), while limiting opponents to a .237/.288/.323/.611 slash line, including .226/.291/.301/.592 against left-handed batters.
Garcia finished in the top 10 among MLB left-handed relievers last season (min. 50.0 IP) in strikeouts per 9.0 innings (7th) and home runs allowed per 9.0 innings (10th, 0.60). His 11.31 strikeouts per 9.0 innings was the second-highest by a qualified left-handed reliever in Nationals history (since 2005), trailing only Sean Doolittle’s 2018 campaign (12.00 SO/9).
The Manteca, Calif. native has played in the Major Leagues for the last two seasons (since 2023), with a 5-8 record and 4.03 ERA (41 ER/91.2 IP) across 97 relief appearances for Miami (2023) and Washington (2023-24). Of his 97 career MLB appearances, 96 have been with the Nationals, with his lone game for the Marlins being his Major League debut on July 14, 2023, at Baltimore (0.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R). He was claimed off waivers by Washington from Miami on Aug. 1, 2023.
Garcia was originally selected by Kansas City in the 15th round of the 2017 MLB Draft from the University of California, Davis. He has accumulated 353 strikeouts over 303.0 career minor league innings spanning parts of seven seasons with the Kansas City (2017-21), Miami (2022-23), and Washington (2023-24) organizations.
Lowe, 29, batted .274/.359/.432/.791 (618-2259) with 78 home runs and 299 RBI in 615 games across four seasons with Texas (since 2021). The left-handed-hitting first baseman debuted with Tampa Bay in 2019 after being selected by the Rays in the 13th round of the 2016 MLB Draft from Mississippi State University and was acquired by the Rangers in a six-player trade on Dec. 10, 2020.
Following today’s transaction, the Rangers remain at the 40-man limit on the club’s Major League roster.
