FORT MYERS, Fla. — Red Sox teenage prospect Johanfran Garcia, a Valencia, Venezuela native, grew up idolizing eight-time All-Star catcher Salvador Pérez who’s from the same city.
That’s not the reason Garcia initially became a catcher though.
“It was my father. He used to play softball and he used to pitch,” Garcia said through teammate Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz who translated for him. “I used to receive him, catch a little. And I continued to like it and I just kept doing it.”
Garcia, who’s approximately 5-foot-10, 220 pounds, is one of four catchers who Baseball America ranks among the Red Sox’s top 30 prospects. He’s listed at No. 23 and has the potential to take a significant leap in the rankings next season. Baseball America’s Josh Norris wrote in September that Garcia “slots in as the best catching prospect” in the Florida Complex League. Norris also named him one of the top 20 FCL prospects.
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In his first season stateside, Garcia batted .274 with a .372 on-base percentage, .442 slugging percentage, .814 OPS, six homers, 13 doubles, two triples, 29 runs, 37 RBIs, six steals, 24 walks and 61 strikeouts combined between the FCL Red Sox (42 games) and Low-A Salem (15 games).
A National League scout who saw Garcia play in the FCL told MassLive’s Sean McAdam, “Strong, muscular, durable, with a highly agile body with quick feet, and a take-charge, confident defender. A plus arm to all bases, and runs well for a catcher. Bat can be a Gary Sanchez-type power producer, with sound hitting actions, and the type of strength to drive the ball to the big part of the field. Projects as an above-average skill-position player, supplying a 5-hole bat.”
The Red Sox signed Garcia as a 17-year-old in June 2022, three years after inking his brother Jhostynxon Garcia, a 20-year-old outfielder.
Did his brother recruit him to the Red Sox? Garcia called it a “multi-team” effort.
“Not only was it my brother,” said Garcia at the Red Sox’s Fall Performance Program at JetBlue Park in Fort Myers in September. “My family members were all encouraging me to come to the Red Sox to have both of us be on the same team.”
The brothers played together with Salem after Garcia’s promotion there Aug. 15.
“It was awesome. To play with a family member on the same team is a cool experience and I look forward to continuing to do that,” he said.
Garcia gave an interesting reason for Pérez, a five-time Gold Glover and four-time Silver Slugger, being his favorite player growing up. It’s not just because he’s from the same city or because of the catcher’s all-around game as a hitter and defender.
“The leader role,” Garcia explained about what he likes most about Pérez. “I’d like to be the captain of the team and bring out that joy and lead by example for the whole team.”
Norris of Baseball America wrote that Garcia “showed plenty of upside on both sides of the ball, and was particularly intriguing for his combination of hittability and all-fields power. He showed a solid knowledge of the strike zone and bat-to-ball skills, though his in-zone whiff rates might be a touch higher than is ideal and scouts noted his swing could get a bit long every now and then. Behind the plate, Garcia shows plus-plus arm strength but will need to watch his conditioning to assure he maintains the flexibility to stay behind the dish.”
“I can go to all parts of the field,” Garcia said. “I feel like I recognize pitches well and I can use my power to move the ball well to all parts.
“When there are runners in scoring position, I’m trying to be aggressive,” Garcia added. “I’m trying to hit those runners home. When there’s nobody on base, I try to be disciplined but at the same time, aggressive to find my pitch and try to get on base.”
MLB Pipeline noted that Garcia improved his blocking and receiving from his first season in the DSL in 2022 to this year. It added, “he has solid to plus arm strength.”
Garcia has thrown out 38% of base stealers (45-of-118) in pro ball.
“I just try to make the best throw and have the best mechanics,” he said. “If I can’t get the runner out, no problem. Just let it pass and continue with the next one.”
He said he wants to add strength this offseason.
“I’m trying to focus on the physical aspect,” Garcia said. “I want to be more flexible. And besides that, I want to work on my mental game. Be ready for next year for all those games.”
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