St. Louis Cardinals: Enter the JAG as Tyler O’Neill goes to DL

JUPITER, FL - FEBRUARY 20: Adolis Garcia #75 of the St. Louis Cardinals poses for a portrait at Roger Dean Stadium on February 20, 2018 in Jupiter, Florida. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
JUPITER, FL - FEBRUARY 20: Adolis Garcia #75 of the St. Louis Cardinals poses for a portrait at Roger Dean Stadium on February 20, 2018 in Jupiter, Florida. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

The St. Louis Cardinals have made a few changes to their roster by adding an arm via a waiver claim but have also watched as two outfielders have found their way onto the disabled list.

The time has come for the entrance of Adolis Garcia and the St. Louis Cardinals have embraced that time. True, this was somewhat forced by Tyler O’Neill‘s departure to the disabled list with a groin issue, but nevertheless, Garcia arrives to make some noise.

Enter the JAG. Not the early-2000s CBS drama by the same name, nor the military rank but the JAG from the Redbirds. Garcia’s full name is Jose Adolis Garcia and he brings with him a big stick. This stick has shown its prowess with the Memphis Redbirds as he has been on an absolute tear of late.

Just have a look at JAG’s numbers through his minor league career:

Register Batting
YearAgeAgeDifTmLgLevAffGPAABRH2B3BHRRBISBCSBBSOBAOBPSLGOPSTBGDPHBPSHSFIBB
2017242 Teams2 LgsAA-AAASTL12448944564129342156515933108.290.340.476.817212124162
201724-2.4MemphisPCLAAASTL40147136214111231031731.301.342.478.8206562110
2017240.0SpringfieldTLAASTL84342309438823012551282677.285.339.476.81514762052
201825-1.5MemphisPCLAAASTL98372350569423321671021483.269.296.531.82818652150
All Levels (2 Seasons)22286179512022357536132251147191.281.321.501.8223981762112
AAA (2 seasons)Minors13851948677135345247713321114.278.309.516.826251114260

Absolutely amazing. I was privileged to see Garcia play in Memphis for two seasons now and can attest to his growing abilities. He is beast at the plate this season and has found secure footing playing almost daily in right field.

Could he spell the demise of Dexter Fowler? If we go simply off of offense, we see that JAG has an overpowering .531 slugging percentage compared to Fowler’s .298. Who wouldn’t take JAG over Dex?

Garcia’s call-up is not to cover for the absence of Dex however; his call-up is to replace O’Neill who has been on a tear of his own. Have a look at O’Neill’s offensive numbers this season both in Memphis and with the St. Louis Cardinals:

Standard Batting
YearAgeTmLgGPAABRH2B3BHRRBISBCSBBSOBAOBPSLGOPSOPS+TBGDPHBPSHSFIBBPosAwards
201318SEA-minRk28116100123153115241227.310.405.450.8554524000MRE · ARIZ
201419SEA-minA,A-,Rk6125823133581101340502185.251.326.468.79310855011CLI,EVR,MRE · MIDW,NORW,ARIZ
201520SEA-minA+,Fal11448043773116242359216529148.265.319.570.88924978063BAK,PEA · CALL,AZFL
201621SEA-minAA,Fal149661564831653142711613374172.293.377.505.8822857100135WTN,PEA · SOUL,AZFL
201722SEA-STL-minAAA13055749577122263319514254151.246.321.499.82024783050TAC,MEM · PCL
201823STL-minAAA612602255870822661312962.311.388.7111.10016032041MEM · PCL
201823STLNL2360551017103910224.309.333.491.8241222701020/798
1 Yr2360551017103910224.309.333.491.8241222701020
162 Game Avg.162423387701207021637014169.309.333.491.824122190070140

Here’s the thing, O’Neill has every bit as much power as JAG (more in fact in the minors than JAG).

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The one differentiating factor between the two is that O’Neill manages to hit more frequently than does JAG.

That said, what JAG fails to produce via base hits, he makes up for with power. Just look at the two sluggers’ OPS– JAG at .828 in Memphis with O’Neill at .824 with the St. Louis Cardinals. Oh, and if you want to really blow your socks off just take a look at O’Neill’s OPS in the minors in 2018… a staggering 1.100!

While it is unfortunate to see O’Neill go to the DL, it is a nice problem to have when the St. Louis Cardinals can call up a hitter with the power and adroitness of Adolis Garcia.

This is a nice addition to the team and, in my opinion, will make the decision on what to do with Fowler in the future a little clearer. Hold onto your hats and make sure you bring your glove with you if you are sitting in the outfield when JAG is at the plate.

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