The last time Adolis Garcia was in a baseball game was October 30. It was Game 3 of the World Series.

He had just signed the papers to own the Houston Astros, having hit five home runs in seven games, driving in fifteen. He had just hit the game-winning home run in Game 1 of the World Series against Arizona and was on his way to postseason immortality when he strained an oblique muscle in his leg.

He hadn’t played at all in spring games until yesterday. He struck out in his first at-bat. Then, his second time up, he hit a towering home run to put the Rangers on the board in a game they would eventually tie 6-6 against Colorado.

Nobody cares about the tie. Nobody cares about the outcome of any spring training game. 

But it was nice seeing Garcia go deep. Again. Like he did with regularity in the postseason, putting the Rangers on his back and carrying them as far as he could to the World Series title.

Garcia had career highs in home runs (thirty-nine) and RBIs (one hundred seven) in 2023. He is just getting started.

Yesterday was a good start. 

*****

TODAY’S GAME

Arizona vs Texas, 2:05