Detroit Tigers: Bryan Garcia recalled as he looks to right the ship in 2021

The Detroit Tigers are taking advantage of the September call-ups, and Bryan Garcia is one of those players who is benefitting. After the 2020 season ended, it seemed like Garcia had a legitimate shot to be in the closer conversation for the 2021 season.

In reality, the Detroit Tigers relegated him to the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens after the horrid performance from him in 2021. It has not been pretty, and given that he was promoted once again, he is going to be looking to right the ship and get his stats under control.

It’s going to take several outings, but any progress in the right direction to prove that he can be the pitcher he was in 2020 should be viewed as a “win” for him. The Tigers should not be impressed in the slightest with Garcia’s performance so far; there needs to be a big change.

With COVID-19 playing a factor in the Tigers clubhouse after Joe Jiménez tested positive, the team needed some spare arms around the bullpen. If Garcia can produce some scoreless innings, he can get the snowball started and get it moving in the right direction.

Detroit Tigers reliever Bryan Garcia has to right the ship.

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In 2020, Garcia looked like an exceptional bullpen arm and someone who is in the closer conversation. Last year he pitched in 26 games for the Tigers, where he logged 21.2 innings pitched while posting a 1.66 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP.

He surrendered only six runs (four earned) on the season and was effective on the mound. In 2021, it’s been a very different tune being played, and Garcia would likely agree that it’s been a mess given his performance so far.

He has pitched in 32 games for the Tigers, where he has logged 32 innings pitched. Garcia has a 7.31 ERA, a 1.75 WHIP, and has allowed eight home runs.

It’s been a slugfest against Garcia, who has a .511 slugging against him, and his average exit velocity being given up has risen to 91.2 mph when it was at just 85.6 mph during the 2020 season.

The struggles are evident; it does not take a data analyst to go through and see that Garcia is struggling. This recall to the big leagues might be his chance to turn things around. If he does not turn things around, there could be demotions and possible cuts coming in his future.

Garcia needs to really do a 180 and pivot the other way. He needs a nice set of scoreless innings to start working on getting those numbers to a better spot. Right now, it looks like the 2020 end-of-year closer is nothing more than an extra arm the team throws out there during blowouts.

As the 2021 season gets closer to ending, Garcia needs to make the most of his recent call-up.