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The Baltimore Orioles have left plenty to be desired thus far in 2026, as they're last place in the AL East at 21-29. However, that doesn't apply to right-handed reliever Rico Garcia.
The 32-year-old has a 0.87 ERA and 0.58 WHIP over 23 outings this season and has allowed just two runs. He also has three saves out of four opportunities with seven holds.
The Orioles are getting the best possible value out of Garcia, as he's getting paid just $900,000 this year, per Spotrac. They claimed the Hawaii native off waivers in August, and he's been productive ever since.
Garcia made just nine appearances over stints with the New York Mets and New York Yankees before getting picked up by Baltimore last season, but he notched a 2.84 ERA over 20 outings with the latter club to end the year. The journeyman is now in his second year of pre-arbitration, so he has time to develop into a core piece of the Orioles' bullpen.
Baltimore Orioles pitcher Rico Garcia (50). © Mitch Stringer-Imagn Images
Garcia is one of Baltimore's few overachieving players this year, which is ironic considering his resume. The 5-foot-9, 215-pounder had just 30 appearances over stints with four different teams before 2025, which included six outings with the Orioles in 2022. He also spent the entire 2024 campaign on the Mets' Triple-A squad.
Garcia's ascension has been especially crucial for Baltimore given the injuries to closers Ryan Helsley (elbow) and Felix Bautista (shoulder), who are on the 15-day and 60-day injured lists, respectively. Garcia is second on the team behind Helsley in saves and first in holds, so he's been one of its best high-leverage pitchers.
Garcia has also been a saving grace for the Orioles, as they're 26th in baseball with a 4.97 team ERA. They'd be even lower on the list without the veteran's excellent performance thus far, but the pitching staff as a whole must improve for the squad to get above .500.
Baltimore is tied for last in the AL with 274 runs allowed and is second-to-last with a -59 run differential. It also lost by a combined score of 25-10 in its last series against the Tampa Bay Rays, who swept the club in three games.
Up next for the Orioles is a homestand against the Detroit Tigers, Rays, and Toronto Blue Jays to finish May. Friday's game against the Tigers starts at 7:05 p.m ET.
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The 32-year-old has a 0.87 ERA and 0.58 WHIP over 23 outings this season and has allowed just two runs. He also has three saves out of four opportunities with seven holds.
The Orioles are getting the best possible value out of Garcia, as he's getting paid just $900,000 this year, per Spotrac. They claimed the Hawaii native off waivers in August, and he's been productive ever since.
Garcia made just nine appearances over stints with the New York Mets and New York Yankees before getting picked up by Baltimore last season, but he notched a 2.84 ERA over 20 outings with the latter club to end the year. The journeyman is now in his second year of pre-arbitration, so he has time to develop into a core piece of the Orioles' bullpen.
Rico Garcia Providing Orioles Much-Needed Silver Lining
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Baltimore Orioles pitcher Rico Garcia (50). © Mitch Stringer-Imagn Images
Garcia is one of Baltimore's few overachieving players this year, which is ironic considering his resume. The 5-foot-9, 215-pounder had just 30 appearances over stints with four different teams before 2025, which included six outings with the Orioles in 2022. He also spent the entire 2024 campaign on the Mets' Triple-A squad.
Garcia's ascension has been especially crucial for Baltimore given the injuries to closers Ryan Helsley (elbow) and Felix Bautista (shoulder), who are on the 15-day and 60-day injured lists, respectively. Garcia is second on the team behind Helsley in saves and first in holds, so he's been one of its best high-leverage pitchers.
Garcia has also been a saving grace for the Orioles, as they're 26th in baseball with a 4.97 team ERA. They'd be even lower on the list without the veteran's excellent performance thus far, but the pitching staff as a whole must improve for the squad to get above .500.
Baltimore is tied for last in the AL with 274 runs allowed and is second-to-last with a -59 run differential. It also lost by a combined score of 25-10 in its last series against the Tampa Bay Rays, who swept the club in three games.
Up next for the Orioles is a homestand against the Detroit Tigers, Rays, and Toronto Blue Jays to finish May. Friday's game against the Tigers starts at 7:05 p.m ET.
Continue reading...
