Sophomore Catcher Providing Leadership And Offense For Sharks
After a freshman season that saw him post a paltry .167 batting average, Geremy Garcia knew he had to make a change.
So this summer, the Dominican-born catcher went to work.
He focused on a weight training regiment that strengthened his legs—a catcher’s foundation—and added 20 pounds of muscle to a stocky frame that now carries 205 pounds.
The 21-year-old sophomore also teamed with Sharks Assistant Coach Rudy Arias, who specializes in developing catchers, to craft a plan to work on the mental aspect of the game and his hitting.
Garcia’s hard work paid off this season.
He leads the team in home runs (five) and RBI (30) and has a respectable .287 batting average while providing support to a young pitching staff. He also added playing first base to his repertoire.
“Geremy has impacted our program on and off the field,” Arias said. “With leadership and passion, he has matured to bring energy and guidance to our pitching staff.”
Garcia started playing baseball in the Dominican Republic when he was five years old. By the time he was 12, the youngster knew he was destined for big things on the baseball diamond. Four years later, he moved to the United States to get more exposure.
“There are kids currently in the Dominican Republic that are 14-15 years old that have a legitimate shot to play professionally,” Garcia said. “Being 16-17 years old, moving to the U.S. was my best shot to be able to play baseball and study at the same time.”
Garcia started his baseball career in the U.S. at Georgia Premier Academy in Atlanta, catching college scouts’ attention after smacking seven home runs during his senior season.
He signed with Miami Dade College, but struggled in his first season, hitting three home runs and driving in 17 RBI in only 84 at-bats. His batting average was well below .200.
“When I was in that situation last year, really, there was nobody there to help me out of the slump,” Garcia said. “I had to create that confidence again to be ready and get myself out.”
The season-long downslide taught him the importance of leadership. His mentoring this season is a big reason why the Sharks have rebounded from a slow 5-10 start to winning 11 of their last 15 games. After righting the ship, MDC is now 16-14 on the season.
“Geremy has definitely been one of our main leaders,” said fellow catcher Santiago Carriles-Alvarado. “He brings the energy and always has been a good example of a great teammate.”
Garcia is confident the Sharks’ upward trajectory—much like his own—will continue.
“All I care about right now is for me and my teammates to win games and hopefully win a national championship,” Garcia said.
Click here to subscribe to our bi-weekly newsletter, The Hammerhead. For news tips, contact us at mdc.thereporter@gmail.com.
