Jarlin Garcia’s changeup, which he threw exclusively to RHB (130/132), wasn’t a great swing and miss pitch with just a 20.3% whiff rate. It was otherwise very effective limiting opposing hitters to a .107 batting average and .233 xwOBA. It also showed a plenty reasonable 35.9% zone rate and a 35.7% chase rate.
Garcia’s fastball averaged 93.3 mph and topped out at 96. Garcia actually dropped the usage of his fastball quite a bit this past season from 52.6% in 2018 to 39.9%. The fastball didn’t generate many whiffs at just 9.4% and was hit hard to the tune of a .395 xwOBA.
Jarlin Garcia nearly doubled the usage of his slider to 42.7% (22.4% in 2018). Easily his best pitch, the slider showed an excellent 53.1% zone rate to go along with a very respectable 33.1% chase rate and 30.3% whiff rate. It held opposing hitters to a fantastic .195 batting and .253 xwOBA. Overall it produced a 3.8 pVAL this past year.
Garcia’s most-thrown pitch was very hittable. Sporting a 91 Contact% with only a 3.9 SwStr%, no one was fooled by the four-seamer. The pitch also carried a 25.5 HR/FB%, .305 ISO, and a -7.4 pVal, down from a -2.4 pVal in 2017. The velocity on his four-seamer was 92.2, down 2 mph from 94.2 in 2017.
Garcia’s changeup was above average, sporting a 3.6 pVal, a 15.5 SwStr% and a healthy 36.6 O-swing%. Garcia’s best pitch also had a 40.7 Zone%.
Sporting a 2.2 pVal, Garcia’s slider was very effective. While he did have a 44 Zone% on the pitch, he left something to be desired with a 10.3 SwStr% and 19.9 O-swing%.
