Chicago White Sox outfielder Avisail Garcia was acquired back in 2013 as part of a three-team trade with the Detroit Tigers and the Boston Red Sox.
At the time, the 21-year-old outfielder was considered by many to be the future of the franchise, but after 3.5 years with the White Sox Garcia seemed to show more signs of a bust than an all-star.
For the remainder of the 2013 season, Garcia showed improvement from his first half numbers with the Tigers.
In 42 games Garcia batted .304, collected 49 hits, 5 home runs, and 21 RBI’s. 2014, however, would mark the beginning of a downward spiral.
In 2014 Garcia ended up with 7 home runs, 29 RBI’s, and 42 hits. Unfortunately, his batting average dropped to .244 before a torn Labrum in his left shoulder ended his season.
The years 2015 and 2016 would not look that much better for the young outfielder. In 2015 he would bat .257 with 142 hits, 13 home runs, and 58 RBI’s, and would strike out a whopping 141 times. Then in 2016, he produced much of the same as he ended with an average of .245 with 101 hits, 12 home runs, and 51 RBI’s in 120 games.
By this point faith in Avisail had more than begun to shrink for most White Sox fans who believed that injuries and inconsistent batting and fielding would be his legacy.
But so far this season Garcia has shown a completely different player than from previous seasons. Garcia now looks to be developing into the future star and leader the White Sox thought he could be when they traded for him.
So far this season Garcia is on track to shatter his career highs to this point. He’s already collected 101 hits, 51 RBI’s, and 11 home runs and it’s only been 70 games into the season. Not only that but currently leads the American League in batting average at .341 and is currently in the running to make his first ever All-Star Game.
Whether this is truly the signs of a new page in Garcia’s career and the beginning of better things to come is too early to tell.
But if he has found his stride then Garcia looks to have a place in the White Sox lineup for years to come.
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