Matt Garza

From BR Bullpen

Matthew Scott Garza

Bats Right, Throws Right
Height 6' 4", Weight 185 lb.
School Fresno State University
High School Washington Union High School
Debut August 11, 2006
Born November 11, 1983 in Selma, CA USA

[edit] Biographical Information

Matt Garza had a horrendous first year in college at Fresno State University in 2003, going 1-6 with a 9.55 ERA and a WHIP of 2.17, yet he would be in the major leagues three years later. In 2004, he improved to 6-3, 4.90. Then, in 2005, Matt went 6-5 with a 3.07 ERA and 120 strikeouts in 108 innings. He was named the Western Athletic Conference pitcher of the year, finishing fourth in ERA and second in strikeouts. The Minnesota Twins took him with the 25th pick of the 1st round in the 2005 Amateur Draft, an odd fate for a 13-14 collegiate pitcher.

In 2005, Garza went 1-1, 3.66 in four starts for the Elizabethton Twins, holding opponents to a 2.00 average and striking out 25 while walking 6 in 19 2/3 IP. He also was 3-3, 3.54 for the Beloit Snappers with 64 K's and 15 BB in 56 IP. Despite joining the Midwest League relatively late in the year, he was ranked the #10 prospect in the circuit.

Matt continued his meteoric rise through the Twins system in 2006, crediting some of the advancement to Rick Anderson's adjusting his leg kick in spring training. He went 5-1 with a 1.42 ERA for the Fort Myers Miracle, with 53 K in 44 1/3 IP and a WHIP of .86. He was moved up to the New Britain Rock Cats (6-2, 2.51, 68 K in 57 1/3, .94 WHIP) and then to the Rochester Red Wings (3-1, 1.85, 33 K in 34 IP, .79 WHIP). After a 16-4 year in the minors, he was called up to Minnesota and made his major league debut on August 11. Matt had the 5th-lowest ERA in the minors that year (1.99) and his .179 opponent average tied him for second-lowest among starters, even with Philip Hughes. Baseball America rated him as having the best control in the Eastern League and as having the best breaking pitch in the Florida State League.

Garza was to pitch for the US in the 2007 Futures Game but was called up to the majors. Kevin Mulvey took his roster spot. Instead, he pitched the remainder of the year for the Twins, going 5-7 in 15 starts with a solid 3.69 ERA. After the season, he was included in a big trade with the Tampa Bay Rays, alongside shortstop Jason Bartlett in return for outfielder Delmon Young and infielder Brendan Harris; the trade was unusual in that both sides included a top draft pick who had just established himself in the major leagues.

Matt Garza was a major contributor to the Rays' unexpected surge to the top of the American League in 2008. He made 30 starts for his new team, with a superficially unremarkable 11-9 record, but his 3.70 ERA and 128 strikeouts in 184 innings were a better indicator of how well he pitched. He lost his only start in the ALDS, but was outstanding against the Boston Red Sox in the Championship Series: in two starts, he gave up only 2 earned runs on 8 hits in 13 innings and was credited with two wins, including the clinching Game 7 that sent the Rays to the 2008 World Series. His performance earned him the ALCS MVP honors.

Sources include 2006-2007 Baseball Almanacs, Minorleaguebaseball.com