GaryMrMets
09-03-2003, 02:34 AM
http://www.brooklyncyclones.com/new/Garcia--fielding.jpg
GOING WHERE NO CYCLONE HAS GONE BEFORE
Danny Garcia Becomes The First Former 'Clone In The Big Leagues
Flushing, NY - Second baseman Danny Garcia became the first former Cyclone to make it to the Major Leagues on Tuesday, September 2nd when he reported to Shea Stadium. The Mets' expanded September roster gave the team room to promote Garcia, who has become one of the organization's standout prospects.
Garcia spent more than two weeks with the Cyclones in their inaugural 2001 championship season, and made a major impact on the team during that time. He hit .321 (18-56) in 15 games, with 10 runs, two doubles, and six RBI to accompany a variety of sparkling defensive plays. Perhaps most importantly, Danny's winning attitude was contagious. Brooklyn won 14 of the 15 games in which Garcia played. Since leaving Brooklyn, Danny has led the charge among Cyclones' alumni, as the first player to play in a Double-A game, the first player to make it to Triple-A, and now, the first to play in the big leagues.
"The minor leagues are all about affordable family fun, but they're also about progressing to the majors," said Jeff Wilpon , Senior Executive Vice President and COO of the Brooklyn Cyclones. "Danny's following in a long line of major leaguers who started out in the NY Penn League and went all the way. As a former fan favorite in Brooklyn, it will be exciting for Cyclones fans to be able to come to Shea and watch Danny play."
"I have some great memories from my time there," Garcia said. "I went into Times Square for the first time, went to the MTV studio, hit in the same lineup as (Tsuyoshi) Shinjo...but the number one thing I always tell everyone about is the fans. The Brooklyn fans were unreal. 8,000 people every night with baseball in their blood. It was really exciting, and I'll never forget it."
Garcia - a 6'1", 180-pound, 22-year-old California native - was selected by the Mets in the fifth round of the 2001 draft, out of Pepperdine University. Since then, he has ascended through the Mets' organization at an astounding rate, playing for five minor league affiliates in two and a half years. Danny's professional career began in Brooklyn (A) in July of 2001. He then went on to play for Capital City (A), St. Lucie (A), Binghamton (AA), and Norfolk (AAA), before being promoted to the Mets.
After being promoted to Capital City in 2001, Garcia hit .301 (31-103) in 30 games. The following year, he hit .273 (118-432) with 69 runs, 34 doubles, four home runs, and 52 RBI in 122 games for St. Lucie. That year, he was the Florida State League's Player of the Week (8/19-8/25), and was named to the 2002 FSL All-Star Team. Danny began the 2003 season with Binghamton, and was among the Eastern League's leaders through 32 games, hitting .333 (39-117), with 22 runs, 12 doubles, one triple, three home runs, and 22 RBI. He was then promoted to Norfolk, where he promptly racked up hits in 20 of his first 23 games, including 10 multi-hit games. Garcia was hitting .266 (102-384) through 100 games, with 45 runs, 23 doubles and 54 RBI before being called up to Shea on Tuesday.
GOING WHERE NO CYCLONE HAS GONE BEFORE
Danny Garcia Becomes The First Former 'Clone In The Big Leagues
Flushing, NY - Second baseman Danny Garcia became the first former Cyclone to make it to the Major Leagues on Tuesday, September 2nd when he reported to Shea Stadium. The Mets' expanded September roster gave the team room to promote Garcia, who has become one of the organization's standout prospects.
Garcia spent more than two weeks with the Cyclones in their inaugural 2001 championship season, and made a major impact on the team during that time. He hit .321 (18-56) in 15 games, with 10 runs, two doubles, and six RBI to accompany a variety of sparkling defensive plays. Perhaps most importantly, Danny's winning attitude was contagious. Brooklyn won 14 of the 15 games in which Garcia played. Since leaving Brooklyn, Danny has led the charge among Cyclones' alumni, as the first player to play in a Double-A game, the first player to make it to Triple-A, and now, the first to play in the big leagues.
"The minor leagues are all about affordable family fun, but they're also about progressing to the majors," said Jeff Wilpon , Senior Executive Vice President and COO of the Brooklyn Cyclones. "Danny's following in a long line of major leaguers who started out in the NY Penn League and went all the way. As a former fan favorite in Brooklyn, it will be exciting for Cyclones fans to be able to come to Shea and watch Danny play."
"I have some great memories from my time there," Garcia said. "I went into Times Square for the first time, went to the MTV studio, hit in the same lineup as (Tsuyoshi) Shinjo...but the number one thing I always tell everyone about is the fans. The Brooklyn fans were unreal. 8,000 people every night with baseball in their blood. It was really exciting, and I'll never forget it."
Garcia - a 6'1", 180-pound, 22-year-old California native - was selected by the Mets in the fifth round of the 2001 draft, out of Pepperdine University. Since then, he has ascended through the Mets' organization at an astounding rate, playing for five minor league affiliates in two and a half years. Danny's professional career began in Brooklyn (A) in July of 2001. He then went on to play for Capital City (A), St. Lucie (A), Binghamton (AA), and Norfolk (AAA), before being promoted to the Mets.
After being promoted to Capital City in 2001, Garcia hit .301 (31-103) in 30 games. The following year, he hit .273 (118-432) with 69 runs, 34 doubles, four home runs, and 52 RBI in 122 games for St. Lucie. That year, he was the Florida State League's Player of the Week (8/19-8/25), and was named to the 2002 FSL All-Star Team. Danny began the 2003 season with Binghamton, and was among the Eastern League's leaders through 32 games, hitting .333 (39-117), with 22 runs, 12 doubles, one triple, three home runs, and 22 RBI. He was then promoted to Norfolk, where he promptly racked up hits in 20 of his first 23 games, including 10 multi-hit games. Garcia was hitting .266 (102-384) through 100 games, with 45 runs, 23 doubles and 54 RBI before being called up to Shea on Tuesday.