Over the past three seasons the Los Angeles Dodgers’ bullpen has been a point of contention and frustration. The group of relievers have been inconsistent, which at times has led to blown leads and close games becoming easy victories for opponents.
While that held true at various points of the 2015 season, the Dodgers also saw the emergence of a few young relievers. Among them was Yimi Garcia, who was nearly unhittable through April and into May.
Garcia’s contributions proved critical as the Dodgers were without closer Kenley Jansen until May 15.
With pitchers and catchers not expected to report for Spring Training until Feb. 19, players are enjoying what’s remaining of the offseason with loved ones.
For Garcia, that entailed a return to his native Dominican Republic. It also involved somewhat of a scare as he was involved in a car accident on Monday, as translated from Curiosodigital.com:
Dodgers pitcher Yimi Garcia, his wife and son escaped unhurt from an accident suffered on Monday in the Beltway Professor Juan Bosh (Beltway Santo Domingo), on their way to the South of the country.
The Dodgers signed Garcia as a free agent out of the Dominican Republic in 2009. He made his Major League debut in 2014, though only appeared in eight games. Over 59 games last season Garcia had a 3.34 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and averaged 10.8 strikeouts per nine innings.
Garcia began the 2015 season with the Dodgers, then was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City in July amid some concern of fatigue setting in. He joined the club for one game in late-July and for five games in August before remaining with the Dodgers once active rosters expanded in September.
