Chicago Cubs sign Team Italy and Bologna slugger Robel Garcia to a minor league contract

Having signed with the Cleveland Indians as a free agent in 2010 and played in the Tribe’s minor league system until 2014, Dominican-born Robel Garcia has a second chance to fulfill his dream of reaching MLB as a result of a minor league deal with the Chicago Cubs.

The 25-year-old switch-hitter performed well for Team Italy from both sides of the plate in the recent Super 6 tournament in the Netherlands. In fact, he hit for the cycle in the 11-1 mercy-rule victory over Belgium on September 19, 2018. Robel Garcia ranked in the Top 4 of the Team Italy offense overall in following categories: first in triples (1), second in home runs (3), slugging percentage (1.313), and sacrifice flies (1), third in batting average (.563), on-base percentage (.579), runs scored (5), hits (9), and total bases (21), and fourth in RBI (7), doubles (1), and walks (2).

As a dominant player for the Italian 2018 Serie A1 Champion Bologna squad, he raked in the Italian Baseball Series Championship with a second-best .571 slugging percentage and a third-best .357 batting average. This month Robel Garcia traveled to the Phoenix, Arizona area to participate in a two-week camp with Team Italy and played in an Instructional League Exhibition Series against MLB prospects. His excellent play defensively at shortstop and his big bat at the plate were noticed by scouts attending the games. The Chicago Cubs liked what they saw and offered Robel Garcia a minor league contract.

Forza #Italia! #LetsMakeItHappen

by Roberto Angotti