{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2021}} {{short description|American baseball player (born 1994)}} {{Infobox baseball biography |name = Ralph Garza Jr. |image = Ralph Garza (cropped).jpg |caption = Garza with the Tri-City ValleyCats in 2015 |team = Dorados de Chihuahua |number = 61 |position = Pitcher |birth_date = {{birth date and age|1994|4|6}} |birth_place = Edinburg, Texas, U.S. |bats = Right |throws = Right |debutleague = MLB |debutdate = May 29 |debutyear = 2021 |debutteam = Houston Astros |statleague = MLB |statyear = 2022 season |stat1label = Win–loss record |stat1value = 3–6 |stat2label = Earned run average |stat2value = 3.44 |stat3label = Strikeouts |stat3value = 46 |teams = * Houston Astros ({{mlby|2021}}) * Minnesota Twins ({{mlby|2021}}) * Tampa Bay Rays ({{mlby|2022}}) }} '''Ralph Albert Garza Jr.''' (born April 6, 1994) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Dorados de Chihuahua of the Mexican League. He has previously played for the Houston Astros, Minnesota Twins, and Tampa Bay Rays. He was drafted by the Astros in the 26th round of the 2015 Major League Baseball draft.
==Professional career== ===Houston Astros=== Garza was drafted by the Houston Astros in the 26th round, 769th overall, of the 2015 Major League Baseball draft out of the University of Oklahoma. He made his professional debut with the Low-A Tri-City ValleyCats.
Garza split the 2016 season between the Single-A Quad Cities River Bandits and the High-A Lancaster JetHawks, posting a 6–5 record and 3.35 ERA with 64 strikeouts. In 2017, he played for the High-A Buies Creek Astros, the Double-A Corpus Christi Hooks, and the Triple-A Fresno Grizzlies, accumulating a 3–3 record and 4.22 ERA in 36 appearances. He split the 2018 season between Fresno and Corpus Christi, pitching to a 7–2 record and 3.51 ERA in 66.2 innings of work.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ralph Garza College, Minor & Winter Leagues Statistics & History |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=garza-000ral |website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref>
He spent 2019 in Triple-A with the Round Rock Express, registering an 8–1 record and 4.04 ERA in 42 appearances. Garza did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2020 Minor League Season Canceled |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/06/2020-minor-league-season-will-be-canceled.html |website=MLB Trade Rumors}}</ref> He was added to the Astros’ 60-man player pool for the season, but did not appear for the team.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Astros Announce Initial 60-Man Player Pool |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/06/astros-announce-initial-60-man-player-pool.html |website=MLB Trade Rumors}}</ref> He was assigned to the Triple-A Sugar Land Skeeters to begin the 2021 season, and recorded 6.2 scoreless innings across 3 games to begin the year.
On May 26, 2021, the Astros selected Garza for the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lerner |first=Danielle |date=May 26, 2021 |title=Astros call up pitcher Ralph Garza Jr. for potential MLB debut |url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/texas-sports-nation/astros/article/Astros-call-up-pitcher-Ralph-Garza-Jr-bullpen-16205459.php |work=Houston Chronicle}}</ref> Garza made his MLB debut on May 29, pitching in relief in the 12th inning of a game against the San Diego Padres. In the game, he notched his first major league strikeout, punching out Padres catcher Víctor Caratini, but surrendered a 3-run home run to Wil Myers and was credited with the loss. Garza won his first game as a pitcher on July 11. He was sent to relieve Blake Taylor in the eighth inning with the Astros down 7-2. He pitched the final five outs and allowed zero runs on three strikeouts and walks as the Astros won in the bottom of the ninth inning. <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/HOU/HOU202107110.shtml|title=New York Yankees at Houston Astros Box Score, July 11, 2021}}</ref>
On August 1, Garza was designated for assignment by the Astros.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/08/astros-notes-garza-jr-james-bregman-baez-brantley.html|title=Astros Notes: Garza Jr., James, Bregman, Báez, Brantley}}</ref>
===Minnesota Twins=== On August 4, 2021, Garza was claimed off of waivers by the Minnesota Twins. He was assigned to the Triple-A St. Paul Saints.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/08/twins-claim-ralph-garza-jr-waivers-astros.html|title = Twins Claim Ralph Garza Jr. Off Waivers from Astros}}</ref> He made three appearances for St. Paul, allowing three runs in {{frac|3|2|3}} innings. He was designated for assignment by the Twins on March 22, 2022.
===Tampa Bay Rays=== On March 24, 2022, Garza was claimed off waivers by the Boston Red Sox.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/03/red-sox-claim-ralph-garza-designate-kyle-tyler.html|title=Red Sox Claim Ralph Garza, Designate Kyle Tyler|date=March 24, 2022|accessdate=March 24, 2022}}</ref>
On April 7, 2022, Garza was claimed off of waivers by the Tampa Bay Rays, after he was designated for assignment by the Red Sox.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Franco |first1=Anthony |title=Rays Claim Ralph Garza, Select Chris Mazza |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/04/rays-claim-ralph-garza-select-chris-mazza.html |access-date=April 7, 2022}}</ref> In 19 games, he posted a 3.34 ERA in 35 innings. He was designated for assignment on August 20.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/08/rays-reinstate-manuel-margot-designate-ralph-garza-jr.htm |title=Rays Reinstate Manuel Margot, Designate Ralph Garza Jr. |last=McDonald |first=Darragh |website=www.mlbtraderumors.com |access-date=August 20, 2022 |quote= }}{{Dead link|date=September 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref> Garza cleared waivers and was sent outright to the Triple-A Durham Bulls on August 23.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Adams |first=Steve |date=August 23, 2022 |title=Outrights: Garza, Bugg, Godoy |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/08/rays-outright-ralph-garza-marlins-parker-bugg.html |access-date=2026-02-13 |website=MLB Trade Rumors |language=en-US}}</ref> He elected free agency following the season on November 10.<ref>{{Cite web|title=2022-23 Minor League Free Agents For All 30 MLB Teams|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2022-23-minor-league-free-agents-for-all-30-mlb-teams/?amphtml|access-date=2023-06-01|website=baseballamerica.com|language=en}}</ref>
===Toros de Tijuana=== On January 8, 2024, Garza signed with the Toros de Tijuana of the Mexican League.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Ralph Garza Reportará A Pretemporada De Toros|url=https://eljonronero.com/lmb/ralph-garza-reportara-a-pretemporada-de-toros/|access-date=March 3, 2024|website=eljonronero.com|language=en}}</ref> In 41 appearances for Tijuana, he compiled a 3–2 record and 1.30 ERA with 28 strikeouts across {{fraction|34|2|3}} innings pitched.
Garza made 52 appearances for the Toros during the 2025 campaign, accumulating a 2-4 record and 2.56 ERA with 42 strikeouts and four saves across {{fraction|45|2|3}} innings pitched.
===Leones de Yucatán=== On May 1, 2026, Garza signed with the Leones de Yucatán of the Mexican League.<ref>{{Cite web|title=LMB: Movimientos en listas de reserva - 1 de mayo de 2026|url=https://lmb.com.mx/noticias/lmb-movimientos-en-listas-de-reserva-1-de-mayo-de-2026|access-date=May 16, 2026|website=lmb.com.mx|language=es}}</ref> In four appearances, he posted a 0–1 record with a 7.36 ERA, three walks, and no strikeouts across {{fraction|3|2|3}} innings pitched. On May 9, Garza was waived by Yucatán.<ref>{{Cite web|title=LMB: Movimientos en listas de reserva - 9 de mayo de 2026|url=https://lmb.com.mx/noticias/lmb-movimientos-en-listas-de-reserva-9-de-mayo-de-2026|access-date=May 11, 2026|website=lmb.com.mx|language=es}}</ref>
===Dorados de Chihuahua=== On May 10, 2026, Garza was claimed off waivers by the Dorados de Chihuahua of the Mexican Baseball League.<ref>{{Cite web|title=LMB: Movimientos en listas de reserva - 10 de mayo de 2026|url=https://lmb.com.mx/noticias/lmb-movimientos-en-listas-de-reserva-10-de-mayo-de-2026|access-date=May 11, 2026|website=lmb.com.mx|language=es}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{baseballstats|mlb=621248|espn=41527|br=g/garzara01|fangraphs=17682|brm=garza-000ral|retro=G/Pgarzr001}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Garza, Ralph}} Category:1994 births Category:Living people Category:American expatriate baseball players in Mexico Category:American expatriate baseball players in Venezuela Category:Baseball players from Hidalgo County, Texas Category:Buies Creek Astros players Category:Caribes de Anzoátegui players Category:Corpus Christi Hooks players Category:Dorados de Chihuahua players Category:Durham Bulls players Category:Fresno Grizzlies players Category:Houston Astros players Category:Lancaster JetHawks players Category:Leones de Yucatán players Category:Major League Baseball pitchers Category:Minnesota Twins players Category:Oklahoma Sooners baseball players Category:People from Edinburg, Texas Category:Quad Cities River Bandits players Category:Round Rock Express players Category:St. Paul Saints players Category:Sugar Land Skeeters players Category:Sultanes de Monterrey players Category:Tampa Bay Rays players Category:Toros de Tijuana players Category:21st-century American sportsmen Category:Tri-City ValleyCats players Category:Leones del Escogido players