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Orioles' 'dominant' journeyman reliever has allowed one hit in 2026 originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Baltimore Orioles may have found themselves a new closer.
Baltimore's actual closer, Ryan Helsley, is on the injured list with right elbow inflammation.
Helsley may not have seen a ton of work this past weekend anyway, as the Orioles were swept in four games by the New York Yankees.
Meanwhile, 32-year-old right-hander Rico Garcia is quietly enjoying one of the most dominant season-opening stretches in recent memory.
"He had a 5.27 ERA and 1.54 WHIP in 70.0 innings pitched in his MLB career prior to 2026, but he went 11 hitless innings before allowing a solo home run to Michael Massey," Bleacher Report's Kerry Miller wrote Tuesday. "It's still the only hit he has surrendered, boasting an MLB-best (10 innings minimum) 0.34 WHIP through 14.2 innings of work."
That's right. Garcia has allowed just one hit against the 49 batters he's faced this season. He's also recorded 16 strikeouts while walking just four.
MORE: Reds' Elly De La Cruz makes baseball history not done in last 126 years
The Orioles claimed Garcia off waivers from the New York Mets this past August, and he was designated for assignment three separate times in 2025.
Baltimore must be feeling lucky that it claimed him before anyone else could.
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