Robel Estiwal García Rodriguez (born March 28, 1993) is an Italian-Dominican professional baseball

infielder An infielder is a baseball player stationed at one of four defensive "infield" positions on the baseball field. Standard arrangement of positions In a game of baseball, two teams of nine players take turns playing offensive and defensive roles. ...

for the Unipolsai Fortitudo Bologna of the Italian Baseball League (IBL). He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the

Chicago Cubs The Chicago Cubs are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The Cubs compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as part of the National League (NL) Central division. The club plays its home games at Wrigley Field, which is located ...

and in the KBO League for the LG Twins.

Career

Cleveland Indians

García signed with the Cleveland Indians as an international free agent out of the Dominican Republic in February 2010 at 16 years old. After four seasons, he was released by the Indians on his twenty-first birthday in March 2014. He had topped out in the Single–A Midwest League in 2012 and 2013. After his release, he moved to Verona to be with his Dominican-Italian wife and their children. He began playing independent baseball there in 2016 and joined Redskins Imola and then Fortitudo Bologna of the Italian Baseball League in 2017. In 2018, he played for UnipolSai Bologna and was a member of the Italy national baseball team that played in the

2018 Super 6 baseball tournament Eighteen or 18 may refer to: * 18 (number), the natural number following 17 and preceding 19 * one of the years 18 BC, AD 18, 1918, 2018 Film, television and entertainment * ''18'' (film), a 1993 Taiwanese experimental film based on the short s ...

Chicago Cubs

After being spotted during an exhibition series for Italy in the

Arizona Instructional League The Arizona Instructional League (AIL), sometimes known informally as "instructs", is an American professional baseball league. The league was founded in 1958. Young major league prospects hone their skills in the AIL, while experienced players ma ...

, García signed a minor league deal with the Cubs in November 2018. He started the 2019 season with the Tennessee Smokies before being promoted to the

Iowa Cubs The Iowa Cubs are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. They are located in Des Moines, Iowa, and are named for their Major League Baseball (MLB) affiliate. The ...

after 22 games. On July 3, 2019, the Cubs selected García's contract and promoted him to the major leagues. He made his debut that night as a

pinch hitter In baseball, a pinch hitter is a substitute Batting (baseball), batter. Batters can be substituted at any time while the dead ball (baseball), ball is dead (not in active play); the manager (baseball), manager may use any player who has not yet ...

for Brandon Kintzler and struck out in his first at-bat. On July 4, 2019, Robel tripled off Jordan Lyles for his first MLB hit. He also singled and hit a solo home run in the game against the

Pittsburgh Pirates The Pittsburgh Pirates are an American professional baseball team based in Pittsburgh. The Pirates compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division. Founded as part of the American Associati ...

Cincinnati Reds

García was claimed off waivers by the

Cincinnati Reds The Cincinnati Reds are an American professional baseball team based in Cincinnati. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) National League Central, Central division and were a charter member of ...

on July 26, 2020. García did not play in a game for Cincinnati in 2020. After the 2020 season, he played for

Águilas Cibaeñas The Águilas Cibaeñas (English lit. ''Cibaoan Eagles'') is a professional baseball team in the Dominican Republic's Dominican Professional Baseball League, winter baseball league. Founded on January 28, and based in Santiago de los Caballeros, S ...

of the Dominican Professional Baseball League. He has also played for Dominican Republic in the

2021 Caribbean Series The 2021 Caribbean Series (Serie del Caribe) was the 63rd edition of the international competition featuring the champions of the Colombian Professional Baseball League, Dominican Professional Baseball League, Mexican Pacific League, Panamanian ...

New York Mets

On October 26, 2020, García was claimed off waivers by the New York Mets. On February 1, 2021, García was designated for assignment following the acquisition of

Jordan Yamamoto Jordan Yamamoto (born May 11, 1996) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Miami Marlins and New York Mets. Early life Yamamoto was born on Oahu to Larry, a diesel mechanic, and Cand ...

Los Angeles Angels

On February 3, 2021, García was claimed off waivers by the Los Angeles Angels. On February 25, 2021, García was designated for assignment by the Angels following the waiver claim of Jack Mayfield.

Houston Astros

On February 27, 2021, García was claimed off waivers by the

Houston Astros The Houston Astros are an American professional baseball team based in Houston, Texas. The Astros compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West division, having moved to the division in 2013 after ...

. García played in 46 games for the Astros in 2021, struggling to a .151 batting average with 1 home runs and 8 RBI's. On September 15, 2021, the Astros designated García for assignment. On September 18, he cleared waivers and was sent outright to the Triple-A Sugar Land Skeeters.

Chicago Cubs (second stint)

On March 21, 2022, Garcia signed a minor league deal with the

. Garcia played in 41 games for Triple-A Iowa, hitting .295 with 12 home runs and 30 RBI's. On June 4, the Cubs released Garcia to pursue a career overseas.

LG Twins

On June 5, 2022, Garcia signed with the LG Twins of the KBO League. He was released on October 7, 2022.

Leones de Yucatán

On May 12, 2023, García signed with the Leones de Yucatán of the Mexican League. In 13 games, he batted .192/.309/.255 with 9 hits and 5 RBIs. García was released on May 30.

Unipolsai Fortitudo Bologna

On July 25, 2023, García signed with the UnipolSai Bologna of the Italian Baseball League.

Personal life

García is a citizen of the Dominican Republic and a naturalized Italian citizen. His wife, with whom he has at least three children, is Dominican-Italian.

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:García, Robel 1993 births Living people Águilas Cibaeñas players Arizona League Indians players Chicago Cubs players Dominican Republic expatriate baseball players in Mexico Dominican Republic expatriate baseball players in the United States Fortitudo Baseball Bologna players Houston Astros players Iowa Cubs players Italian expatriate baseball players in Mexico Italian expatriate baseball players in the United States Italian people of Dominican Republic descent KBO League second basemen Lake County Captains players Leones de Yucatán players LG Twins players Mahoning Valley Scrappers players Major League Baseball infielders Major League Baseball players from the Dominican Republic National baseball team players Naturalised citizens of Italy Naturalised sports competitors People from San Juan Province (Dominican Republic) Sportspeople of Dominican Republic descent Sugar Land Skeeters players Tennessee Smokies players Toros del Este players Unipol Bologna players 2023 World Baseball Classic players