Onelki García


Onelki García is a Cuban professional baseball pitcher for the Hanshin Tigers of Nippon Professional Baseball. He has played in Major League Baseball for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Kansas City Royals, and for the Chunichi Dragons of Nippon Professional Baseball.

Career

Cuban career and defection

García began playing in the Cuban National Series at age 18. In three seasons for the Guantánamo team he had a 12–12 win–loss record with a 4.73 earned run average.
García defected from Cuba in August 2010 with hopes of pursuing a professional baseball career in the United States. He was originally declared eligible for the 2011 Major League Baseball Draft but was ruled ineligible due to issues with his residency. A year later he was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the third round of the 2012 Major League Baseball Draft.

Los Angeles Dodgers

García started his professional career with the High-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes. He started one game, striking out four over two innings pitched. He started the 2013 season with the Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts. He was promoted to the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes in August 2013. Between the two levels, he was in 35 games and was 2–4 with a 2.90 ERA.
On September 11, 2013, the Dodgers purchased his contract and called him up to the Major Leagues. He made his debut that night and walked the one batter he faced against the Arizona Diamondbacks. He pitched 1 innings over three games for the Dodgers in September, and allowed two earned runs on one hit and four walks. He is the first, and only, player to wear the number 98 in Major League Baseball.
He missed all of the 2014 season after undergoing shoulder surgery in the offseason.

Chicago White Sox

On November 20, 2014, García was claimed off waivers by the Chicago White Sox. The White Sox outrighted him to the minors on April 3. He was released by the White Sox in March 2016.

Diablos Rojos del México

On July 8, 2016, García signed with the Diablos Rojos del México of the Mexican League. He was released on September 23, 2016.

Kansas City Royals

On October 21, 2016, García signed a minor league contract with the Kansas City Royals. He pitched for the Omaha Storm Chasers of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League, and was promoted to the major leagues on August 26, 2017.. He was designated for assignment on September 12, 2017, when the team claimed Mike Morin off of waivers. On December 18, 2017, García was released to pursue a playing opportunity in Japan.

Chunichi Dragons

On December 20, 2017, García was confirmed to have signed with the Chunichi Dragons of Nippon Professional Baseball.
He was selected. On December 1, 2018, it was confirmed that the Dragons had released Garcia after failing to reach an agreement over a new deal.

Hanshin Tigers

On December 17, 2018, García signed a one-year, $1.5 million contract with the Hanshin Tigers of NPB.
On December 14, 2019, García signed a 1-year extension to remain with the Tigers.