Blue Jays’ reliever Yimi García surpasses ten years in the big leagues

Originally posted on Bluejaysnation
By Tyson Shushkewich | Last updated Apr 18, 2025 4:50 PM ET

The Toronto Blue Jays have something to celebrate before the Friday night contest, as veteran right-handed reliever Yimi García recently surpassed 10 years in the big leagues in terms of service time. The team celebrated the accomplishment behind closed doors ahead of batting practice early Friday.

“I think it’s really cool to be recognized by his teammates,” said manager John Schneider during his pre-game media availability. “For one, it’s hard to do, Kevin (Gausman) mentioned that it’s over 400 innings in the bullpen, that’s hard to do.”

García got his start with the Los Angeles Dodgers, signing as an international free agent in 2009. He later made his MLB debut in 2014, pitching two clean innings on September 1st against the Washington Nationals.

The right-hander would spend the next four seasons with the Dodgers, missing significant time in 2016 and 2017 (full-season) after undergoing surgery on his knee and then Tommy John surgery shortly after. He became a free agent following the 2019 season.

Yimi García

Is Good pic.twitter.com/96Jq3J3pQj

— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) April 10, 2025

He would spend the next two seasons with the Miami Marlins before being traded at the 2021 trade deadline to the Houston Astros, where he finished the season. In 2022, Garcia signed a two-year deal with the Toronto Blue Jays, which included a vesting option for a third season. With the Jays out of the postseason race last season, he would be traded at the 2024 deadline to the Seattle Mariners, struggling through an elbow injury to finish the year, but returned to Toronto this past offseason on a two-year pact worth $15 million.

“It’s cool to celebrate, he’s such a gentle giant, pretty quiet and reserved,” said Schneider. “We get to see the guy who is intimidating on the mound, striking guys out, but it’s cool to recognize guys who don’t get a light show coming in… guys enjoyed recognizing him today.”

With the Blue Jays, the Dominican product owns a 3.25 ERA and a 3.15 FIP with 193 strikeouts through 172 relief appearences and 10 saves. For his career, García owns a 3.51 ERA across 423 outings (one start) with 445 strikeouts, a 3.81 FIP, and a 1.047 WHIP across five organizations.

“Knowing his demeanour in the bullpen to start the game, when he gets out there, it’s him versus the hitter no matter the situation,” said Schneider, regarding García’s intensity on the mound. “It’s basically pitch one, it’s on.”

García joins fellow teammates Kevin Gausman and George Springer to surpass the prestigious ten-year mark.

This article first appeared on Bluejaysnation and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: