Dateline: Cincinnati
At 31 years of age, Julian Garcia get his first call to the big leagues.
Standing in the security line at the Atlanta airport Louisville Bats manager told him that he was going to the Reds. The Bats just finished a series in Lawrenceburg, Georgia against the Gwinnett Stripers on Father's day.
Garcia got on the phone to his dad to tell him his 11-year quest to reach the Major Leagues was over.
"It is a pretty cool story,"| Reds' manager Terry Francona said. "He went back to Independent ball. He has done just about, anything and everything you could ask. We felt he was very deserving of a shot. He has done really well and it will be kind of fun to see how he fits in here."
Garcia was chosen by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 10th round of the 2016 draft out of Metropolitan State University in Denver, Colorado.
He toiled in the Phillies farm system for six years and decided to reset and take 2023 off.
Garcia a 6'3" righthander, taught youths how to pitch during the year off while working out.
"I believed it from day one. That's why I kept grinding to get to this point," Garcia said. "I took off in 2023 after I was released from the Phillies. I needed a mental reset. I just needed someone to give me a shot."
He pitched in 22 games with the Kansas City Monarchs of the American Association Independent League. He pitched 19 more in 2025 before the Reds signed him to pitch at Chattanooga last season. He pitched in a couple games in spring training and the Reds sent him to pitch at Louisville.
"The independent league gets a bad wrap but I fell in love with the game again," Garcia said. "I got there in Kansas City it is close to home, (in Ft. Collins, Colorado). The manager there didn't say anything. He just gave me the ball every five days."
"I was able to just be a pitcher and I became a better pitcher," Garcia said. "There were a lot of ups and downs with the Phillies. I was in Double A and they moved me to Triple A pretty quickly and I just struggled."
Garcia went to Louisville to pitch for Pat Kelly and the Bats.
He made 21 appearances in Louisville, including two starts. Garcia was 3-0 with a 3.03 ERA. He pitched 35 2/3 innings walking 12 and striking out 34. He has given up four home runs.
"He is in the top percentile in almost everything," Francona said. "By all accounts, he holds runners. He throws strikes. Now we just have to let him go pitch."
When he does, his father, uncle, cousins and girlfriend will be here to watch him reach his dreams.
Pierce Johnson was activated from the injured list. Zach Maxwell was optioned to Louisville. Chris Paddack was designated for assignment.
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