1. Early Life and Background
José Adolis García Arrieta was born on March 2, 1993, in Ciego de Ávila Province, Cuba. He is the younger brother of Adonis García, who is eight years his senior and also a former professional baseball player. García attended the Marina Samuel Noble sports initiation school, which specializes in training track and field athletes, before embarking on his professional baseball career. His nickname is "El Bombi"Spanish.
2. Professional Career
José Adolis García's professional baseball career began in Cuba, leading him through a brief stint in Japan before his defection to pursue opportunities in Major League Baseball, where he has since established himself as a prominent outfielder.
2.1. Cuban National Series
García began his professional career with Tigres de Ciego de Ávila in the Cuban National Series (CNS), playing for the team from the 2011-2012 season until 2015. During his tenure, he made his debut in the 2011-2012 season. He was a significant player for Ciego de Ávila, leading the league in RBIs in both 2015 and 2016, and in hits in 2014 and 2015.
In July 2015, García was selected to represent the Cuban national team at the 2015 Pan American Games. In February 2016, he participated in the 2016 Caribbean Series as a reinforcement player for Ciego de Ávila. The following month, he was selected to play for the Cuban national team in an exhibition game against the Tampa Bay Rays.
His batting and fielding statistics in the Cuban National Series are as follows:
| Year | Team | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | TB | RBI | SB | CS | SH | SF | BB | IBB | HBP | SO | GIDP | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011-2012 | CAV | 27 | 38 | 37 | 3 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 1 | .216 | .216 | .324 | .541 |
| 2012-2013 | 29 | 14 | 13 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | .231 | .286 | .231 | .516 | |
| 2013-2014 | 40 | 145 | 128 | 17 | 36 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 50 | 11 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 28 | 1 | .281 | .333 | .391 | .724 | |
| 2014-2015 | 85 | 378 | 342 | 62 | 110 | 14 | 3 | 12 | 166 | 53 | 11 | 14 | 6 | 4 | 20 | 1 | 6 | 67 | 5 | .322 | .366 | .485 | .851 | |
| CNS Total (4 years) | 181 | 575 | 520 | 92 | 157 | 20 | 6 | 14 | 231 | 68 | 14 | 16 | 14 | 4 | 28 | 2 | 9 | 108 | 7 | .302 | .346 | .444 | .790 | |
2.2. Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB)
On April 20, 2016, García signed with the Yomiuri Giants of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) as a派遣選手 (hakensenshu, dispatched player) from Cuba. He made his NPB debut on June 16, 2016, against the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles at Tokyo Dome, entering as a pinch-hitter in the 5th inning and striking out against Hiroyuki Fukuyama. His first start came on June 18, 2016, against the Chiba Lotte Marines, where he played as the leadoff hitter and left fielder.
Despite his potential, García's tenure with the Giants was brief. He appeared in only four games, recorded seven at-bats, and did not register a hit. After being sent down to the minor league team (ni-gun), his contract was terminated on August 18, 2016. Shortly after, while en route back to Cuba, García reportedly disappeared in France, with speculation that he defected to pursue a career in Major League Baseball. He was officially declared a free agent in the United States on December 2, 2016.
His batting statistics in Nippon Professional Baseball are as follows:
| Year | Team | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | TB | RBI | SB | CS | SH | SF | BB | IBB | HBP | SO | GIDP | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Giants | 4 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
Reflecting on his time in Japan, García expressed gratitude for the experience, acknowledging that adapting to the new environment took time and he spent most of his time with the ni-gun team. He particularly credited then-teammate and fellow outfielder Hisayoshi Chono for his support, stating that Chono often comforted him during difficult times and was instrumental to his positive experience in Japan.
2.3. Major League Baseball (MLB)
After his defection from Cuba in 2016, García began his journey to Major League Baseball, eventually making a significant impact with the Texas Rangers.
2.3.1. St. Louis Cardinals
In February 2017, García signed a minor league contract with the St. Louis Cardinals, receiving a non-roster invitation to spring training. He spent the 2017 season playing for both the Springfield Cardinals of the Double-A Texas League and the Memphis Redbirds of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League. Across both levels, he posted a combined batting average of .290, with 15 home runs and 65 RBIs.
García started the 2018 season with Memphis. On August 6, he was promoted to the major leagues by the Cardinals, making his MLB debut on August 8 in a game against the Miami Marlins, starting as the eighth batter and center fielder. In his 21 games for St. Louis that year, he recorded two hits, including a double, and one RBI in 17 at-bats. For Memphis in 2018, he played in 112 games, hitting .256 with 22 home runs, 71 RBIs, and 10 stolen bases. García did not appear in MLB during the 2019 season. On December 18, 2019, he was designated for assignment by the Cardinals.
2.3.2. Texas Rangers
On December 21, 2019, García was traded to the Texas Rangers in exchange for cash considerations, beginning the most impactful phase of his MLB career.
3. Playing Style
José Adolis García is recognized as a well-rounded outfielder, possessing a combination of speed, power, and defensive prowess. His batting style is characterized by his strong hitting, making him a formidable power hitter. On defense, he is particularly known for his strong throwing arm, which allows him to make accurate throws from the outfield. These attributes contribute to his reputation as a triple-threat player.
4. Awards and Honors
Throughout his career, José Adolis García has accumulated numerous awards and honors:
- Cuban National Series:**
- Most RBI: 2015, 2016
- Most Hits: 2014, 2015
- Major League Baseball:**
- MLB All-Star: 2021, 2023
- American League Championship Series MVP: 2023
- Gold Glove Award (Outfield): 2023
- Babe Ruth Award: 2023
- MLB Player of the Week: April 26, 2021
- American League Rookie of the Month: May 2021
- All-MLB Team Second Team (Outfielder): 2023
5. Personal Life
José Adolis García has a close relationship with his older brother, Adonis García, who is also a former professional baseball player. He is also the godfather to the daughter of fellow Cuban baseball player Randy Arozarena. Arozarena, who himself defected from Cuba a year before García and also signed his first minor league contract with the Cardinals, has described García as "kind of like my brother," highlighting their strong bond.
García has reflected on his time in Japan, expressing gratitude for the experience despite the challenges. He acknowledged that adapting to Japan took time and that he spent most of his tenure in the minor leagues. He has specifically mentioned Hisayoshi Chono, a former teammate with the Yomiuri Giants, for his help and support during his difficult period in Japan, referring to their encounter as a "success story" in his Japanese experience.