Mets Make Announcement on 23-Year-Old Strikeout Artist

The New York Mets have promoted 23-year-old right-hander Saul Garcia from Double-A Binghamton to Triple-A Syracuse, placing one of the organization’s emerging strikeout arms one step from the majors.

Garcia, a 6-foot, 180-pound reliever from Naguanagua, Venezuela, was assigned to the Syracuse Mets on Thursday as part of a batch of minor-league roster moves.

The promotion comes after a full season of high-leverage work with the Rumble Ponies, where the right-hander made 44 appearances, posted a 3.99 ERA in 49 2/3 innings, and struck out 66 batters. He also recorded four saves and a 1.25 WHIP.

Signed as an international free agent in June 2021, Garcia spent his first several professional seasons as a starter. The results were mixed and the walk rate remained a concern.

The organization moved him to the bullpen in 2025, and the change unlocked his best stuff. Between High-A Brooklyn and a late-season look at Binghamton, he compiled a 1.70 ERA, six saves, and 76 strikeouts in 47 2/3 innings. Opponents hit just .173 against him that year.

The swing-and-miss profile has been consistent. Garcia’s four-seam fastball sits in the mid-90s with late life, and his slider—thrown in the mid-to-upper 80s with sharp downward break—has generated elite whiff rates. A changeup rounds out the mix.

That combination has produced strikeout rates well above 30 percent at multiple levels once he shortened his outings.

Garcia is also part of a baseball family. His first cousin is former Met and current Giants infielder Wilmer Flores; the two families were close during Garcia’s childhood in Venezuela.

After representing the Mets in the 2024 Arizona Fall League, he spent last winter pitching for Navegantes del Magallanes in the Venezuelan Winter League, continuing the transition to a late-inning role.

Syracuse will test whether the strikeout stuff holds against older, more disciplined hitters. If it does, Garcia could put himself in position for a September look or a 2027 bullpen job in Queens.

For now, the Mets have given their developing power arm the next challenge: Triple-A hitters and, potentially, a path to Citi Field.

We’ll see how long it takes Garcia to hit the big leagues.