IN THE CARDS

Jaime Garcia grew up in Reynosa, but he quickly learned about Yankee Stadium.

Garcia's grandfather Armando Rodriguez, who died eight years ago, was an avid Yankees fan. And Garcia always knew he had to find a way to Yankee Stadium.

"He never saw me play, but he told me he would go see me if I ever played in Yankee Stadium," Garcia said.

Garcia's talent finally will allow him a trip to the Bronx. It comes just in time as Yankee Stadium gives way to a new stadium at season's end. Garcia, a pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals' Triple-A affiliate Memphis Redbirds and former Sharyland standout, earned a ticket for the second time in his career to participate in the Futures Game on July 14 at Yankee Stadium.

As expected, Garcia will be thinking about his grandfather.

"I think I am lucky because this is the last year of Yankee stadium. Even if I get called up, I play in the National League and wouldn't probably get to play there," Garcia said. "This is very special for me. I feel like my grandfather will be there with me."

Garcia's selection to the Futures Game doesn't come as any surprise, because he is considered by scouts as one of the Cardinals' top prospects. There is talk in the organization that he will be called up to the big leagues by the end of the year.

"He is one of our top guys," Cardinals scout Joe Almarez said.

"He just has to keep doing what he is doing and when his day comes be ready."

Almarez scouted Garcia while he was playing at Sharyland and instantly was impressed.

"When I first saw him, they were playing in Robstown and one of the first things I noticed was his curveball," Almarez said. "He has good command, but his command of his curveball was really good. It was as good as players who were in college."

With 11 games at Memphis this season, the 6-foot-2, 200-pound Garcia is 4-4 with a 4.06 ERA and has struck out 56 batters in 64 1/3 innings on the mound. He began the season with Double-A Cardinals affiliate Springfield, going 3-2 with a 2.06 ERA.

"I don't pay attention to any of it," said Garcia, referring to the chatter of him pitching in the big leagues soon. "I stay away from the Internet. If it happens, it happens, you know. I just need to concentrate. If I don't get called up this year, maybe I will next year."

Sharyland coach Barton Bickerton, who coached Garcia in high school, expects to see a second Sharyland alum in the majors. Jorge Cantu, who never played for the Rattlers but graduated from Sharyland, is a third baseman for the Florida Marlins.

"We have one guy up there, Jorge Cantu. Of course, Jorge never got to play for us but I would be nice to see Jaime up there," Bickerton said. "Jaime was probably the best pitcher to ever play for us, and that says a lot.
"We've been waiting all year to see him move up."

There was one period when Almarez was waiting to see if Garcia would eventually play professionally in the United States. Almarez was a Baltimore Orioles scout when he first noticed Garcia in Robstown. With Almarez's advice, the Orioles drafted Garcia in the 30th round of the 2004 MLB Draft, but the then rising high school senior wanted a hefty signing bonus.

"He was young," Almarez said. "I don't think the people around him were familiar with how it all works. He was given some bad information. There are some kids that get good information and some that get bad information."

Garcia, 17 when he first was drafted, had only been living in the U.S. for about three years.

"When he graduated he was pretty immature," Bickerton said. "You have to remember, they start school one year earlier in Mexico so he was very young. I think he has matured a lot. His maturity level is a lot better than it was when he graduated from Sharyland."

One year after declining the Orioles' offer, Almarez, who started working as a scout with the Cardinals' organization, had Garcia drafted in the 22nd round of the 2005 draft. But Garcia remained adamant about a $100,000 signing bonus - a sizable bonus for second-day draft picks. Garcia, however, eventually gave up his pursuit of the bonus and signed on with the Cardinals.

"I don't regret anything," Garcia said. "It all worked out, and I'm happy with my career."

Peter Rasmussen covers high school baseball for The Monitor. You can reach him at (956) 683-4448.