Jaime Garcia is a former professional baseball player who played as a pitcher in Major League Baseball (MLB) for over a decade. He was born on July 8, 1986, in Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico, and grew up in Texas, where he attended Sharyland High School.
Garcia was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 22nd round of the 2005 MLB draft. He made his MLB debut with the Cardinals in 2008 and quickly established himself as a reliable starting pitcher. In his rookie season, he went 2-1 with a 4.70 ERA in 10 games, including seven starts.
Over the next few years, Garcia continued to improve and became a key member of the Cardinals' pitching staff. In 2010, he went 13-8 with a 2.70 ERA in 28 starts, helping the team win the National League Central division title. He also pitched well in the postseason, going 2-2 with a 3.68 ERA in five starts as the Cardinals advanced to the National League Championship Series.
Garcia's success continued in 2011, as he went 13-7 with a 3.56 ERA in 32 starts. He also pitched in the World Series that year, starting two games and allowing just two runs in 11 innings as the Cardinals won their 11th championship.
However, injuries began to take a toll on Garcia's career. He missed most of the 2013 season with a shoulder injury and struggled to regain his form in the following years. He was traded to the Atlanta Braves in 2016 and then to the Minnesota Twins in 2017, but he struggled with both teams and was released by the Twins in September of that year.
Garcia signed with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2018 but was released during spring training. He then signed with the New York Yankees and pitched in 13 games for them, including eight starts. He went 3-3 with a 5.93 ERA before being traded to the Seattle Mariners in July. He made just one start for the Mariners before being designated for assignment and eventually released.
Overall, Garcia had a solid career in MLB, going 70-62 with a 3.85 ERA in 10 seasons. He was known for his ability to induce ground balls and limit walks, as well as his competitiveness on the mound. Despite his injuries and struggles in his later years, Garcia will be remembered as a key contributor to the Cardinals' championship teams of 2010 and 2011.
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