Kansas City Royals third baseman Maikel Garcia is not in the team's Opening Day lineup on Thursday at Kauffman Stadium against the division-rival Cleveland Guardians and right-hander Ben Lively. Vinnie Pasquantino (hamstring) will serve as the designated hitter, while Michael Massey is at second base and Jonathan India mans the hot corner. The Royals are easing Pasquantino into the lineup as the DH to protect him after he suffered a Grade 1-plus hamstring strain last Saturday in spring training. When Pasquantino is healthy enough to return to first base duties, we should see the 25-year-old Garcia return as the regular third baseman for KC. The Venezuelan infielder had a career-high 37 steals in 157 games last year but underwhelmed with his bat (.231 average, seven home runs) and will most likely hit in the bottom third of the batting order this year with India in town.
Kansas City Royals infielder Maikel Garcia will see time in center field during spring training. In the offseason, the Royals acquired Jonathan India from the Cincinnati Reds, which added another bat to their infield. General manager J.J. Picollo noted that the way the team is currently set up, Garcia's "next best spot" is to shift to center field. As a result, this suggests that the team is considering giving Michael Massey the starting nod at second base. Garcia has only seen one start in the outfield throughout his MLB career. However, given the crowded infield, his best option to find consistent playing time may be shifting to the outfield. Last season, Garcia made 157 starts and held a .231/.284/.332 line with 27 doubles and 37 stolen bases. If the 24-year-old were to adjust well to center field in camp, he could push Kyle Isbel to a depth role.
Kansas City Royals third baseman Maikel Garcia is batting in the leadoff spot on Saturday afternoon when the Royals face the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 24-year-old underwent an offseason surgery to remove bone spurs from his right elbow. However, seeing Garcia already in spring training action suggests his recovery process was not serious, and he will not face any limitations. Last season, the infielder posted a career-low .231/.281/.332 line with seven home runs and 37 stolen bases. However, he did generate a strong .260 xBA, which suggests that he should see some positive regression in 2025. Garcia typically was placed in the leadoff spot last season, but with Jonathan India now on the roster, Garcia may have to earn this spot in spring training. If he does continue to bat in this spot, he could be a strong contributor for runs, batting in front of Bobby Witt Jr. and Salvador Perez.
Kansas City Royals infielder Maikel Garcia (elbow) underwent a minor procedure to remove bone chips in his right elbow on Thursday. Garcia reported elbow soreness to the Royals after playing catch at home the week before Thanksgiving, which prompted the team to send him for an MRI exam, in which bone chips were found. Garcia is expected to be ready for spring training in February and is expected to return as the team's primary third baseman in 2025 after hitting .231/.281/.332 in 2024 with 27 doubles and 37 stolen bases. In addition to his 27 doubles and 37 stolen bases for the Royals in a career-high 157 games in his third year in the big leagues, the Venezuelan infielder hit a career-high seven home runs, drove in 58 runs and scored 84 runs in 626 plate appearances. The 24-year-old doesn't have typical home run power for a third baseman, but the speed is nice for a corner-infield target in fantasy.
Maikel Garcia Collects Four Hits, Steal In ALDS Game 2 Win
Kansas City Royals third baseman Maikel Garcia acted as an offensive catalyst in Monday's American League Division Series Game 2 4-2 win over the Yankees. Batting in the leadoff spot, Garcia went 4-for-5 with four singles, an RBI, and a strikeout. He also stole his third base of the playoffs. The 24-year-old mostly provided speed in the regular season, slashing .231/.281/.332 with seven home runs, 84 runs scored, 58 RBI, and 37 stolen bases in 626 plate appearances. However, he has provided speed and batting average this postseason, batting .400 in 15 at-bats. The Royals have scored the third-most runs so far in the playoffs, so Garcia offers exposure to that production while hitting at the top of their lineup for DFS leagues.
Kansas City Royals third baseman Maikel Garcia is not in the starting lineup in Wednesday's series finale against the division-rival Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. Paul DeJong will get the start at the hot corner and will bat sixth against Guardians right-hander Tanner Bibee. Garcia will head to the bench after starting each of the team's last five games while going 6-for-19 with a homer, double and two stolen bases. The 24-year-old's playing time against right-handers has dwindled some in the second half of the season, though, since the acquisition of DeJong. Garcia is hitting .239/.287/.347 on the year with seven home runs, 52 RBI and a career-high 32 stolen bases in 129 games in his second full year in the big leagues. He's obviously been useful in all fantasy leagues for his speed, but he also isn't guaranteed a starting spot anymore when the team faces a righty.
Kansas City Royals third baseman Maikel Garcia and outfielder Hunter Renfroe are both on the bench for Monday's tilt against the Los Angeles Angels at Kauffman Stadium. Paul DeJong is starting at the hot corner for the Royals and batting eighth, while Adam Frazier will get the start in right field and hit seventh against Angels right-hander Carson Fulmer. Garcia has given way to the veteran DeJong a bit more of late at third base in Kansas City. Perhaps it's because he's only hitting .236 (13-for-55) in 14 games in the month of August with no home runs. The Venezuelan infielder has been relevant in all fantasy leagues in 2024 because of his 30 stolen bases. Renfroe finally showed some signs of life at the plate over the weekend after recently going hitless in 24 straight plate appearances with nine strikeouts in six games.
Kansas City Royals third baseman Maikel Garcia will take another day off on Friday for the series finale against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. It's the second straight game sitting the bench for Garcia, with a scheduled day off on Thursday in between. It's the first time all season that he has sat in two straight games, so be on the lookout for a potential injury for Garcia. Veteran Paul DeJong is starting at the hot corner and is batting sixth for KC on Friday against Reds right-hander Nick Martinez. Garcia has been disappointing at the plate so far in August, going 10-for-45 (.222) with no homers, three doubles, three RBI and nine strikeouts in 12 games, so perhaps the Royals just want to get DeJong more playing time. DeJong, meanwhile, has gone 8-for-25 (.320) with two homers and five RBI in his first 10 games for the Royals after being acquired from the White Sox at the trade deadline.
Maikel Garcia Out Of Lineup Saturday Night, Michael Lorenzen Debuts For Royals
Kansas City Royals third baseman Maikel Garcia will head to the bench Saturday night for the Royals debut of Michael Lorenzen against the Detroit Tigers. He will be replaced in the lineup by the recently acquired Paul DeJong, who will bat seventh in and play third base in Garcia's place. Garcia is hitting .237 with six home runs, 45 RBI, 27 stolen bases and 69 runs scored in 467 plate appearances. It's a rare day off for a guy who leads the league in games played with 108. This seems to be a day of rest for Garcia, who should be back in the lineup tomorrow for the series finale.
Kansas City Royals infielder Maikel Garcia showed off his speed in Thursday's big victory against the division rival Detroit Tigers. Garcia was 1-for-5 in the contest with a single, run scored and two stolen bases on the day. The 24-year-old has had a full-time role this season for the Royals, mainly leading off and is hitting .237 with six homers, 45 RBI and 27 stolen bases. Garcia was a popular sleeper entering this season and even with his ups and downs at the dish, his speed on the basepaths have made him a valuable member in deeper leagues. Garcia is worth rostering in deeper leagues, but those in daily leagues may want to sit him on Friday with a matchup versus Cy Young candidate Tarik Skubal.
Maikel Garcia
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