Avisail Garcia is back and should be on your team

Aug 18, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago White Sox right fielder Avisail Garcia (26) hits a 2-run RBI single against the Baltimore Orioles during the seventh inning at U.S Cellular Field. Mandatory Credit: Jon Durr-USA TODAY Sports

Remember Avisail Garcia?

He was a big “sleeper” bat coming into the season and landed on numerous teams of mine.  His “sleeper” status was well deserved. He had shown solid power, speed, and batting average in his minor league career. He played 72 MLB games in 2013 between the Tigers and the White Sox and hit .283 with 7 homer and 3 steals.

He was a big part of the 3-team deal that sent Jake Peavy to Boston that year.   He came into 2014 looking to have the starting right field job for the White Sox. His record of power, speed, youth, and the park he was playing in, made him a very exciting option late in the draft.

He played 8 games to start the season, then tore his labrum and was “out for the season”

Funny thing happened last week, though.  In a very under the radar move, the White Sox activated Avisail Garcia from the DL.  That’s right; he’s back for the last month or so of the season.

He’s not lighting up the scoreboard since his return, but he’s showing the power that had us excited in March. In 8 games he’s hitting .214 with a pair of homeruns, 7 RBI and 4 runs, while playing every day in right field. This is a very small sample, so I wouldn’t worry too much about the average.

He’s been hitting 5th in the White Sox lineup, which should present a lot of RBI opportunities down the line. To make matters even better for him, he plays 18 of the last 31 games in the small confines of US Cellular Field.

Garcia hasn’t set the world on fire since his return, but there aren’t many power/speed combo’s like him available on waivers. He’s owned in less than 20% of yahoo leagues. He has the ability to his 3-4 homers and 3-7 steals down the line. There are not many hitters out there that have that potential, and none of them are available on waivers.