Portland Sea Dogs power-hitter getting tips from Red Sox legend David Ortiz
Red Sox outfield prospect Jhostynxon Garcia had a breakout year last season, en route to his promotion to Double-A Portland. Garcia received two promotions in 2024 and was added to the Red Sox 40-man roster, protecting him from the Rule 5 draft back in December.
The 22-year-old batted .294 with a .361 on-base percentage, .559 slugging percentage, .920 OPS, 23 homers, 22 doubles, four triples, 66 RBIs, 76 runs, 29 walks, and 16 steals combined between Low-A Salem (24 games), High-A Greenville (53 games), and Double-A Portland (19 games).
Garcia is poised for another breakout year in 2025 and has been getting pointers from Hall of Famer David Ortiz.
“I’ve been talking to David Ortiz,” Garcia said via translator Carlos Villoria Beníitez on Tuesday during the 2025 Rookie Development Program at Fenway Park. “He gave me a lot of tips, and we’ve talked a lot about how to play in Boston.”
“The Password” led all Red Sox minor leaguers with 23 homers in 2024 while playing all three outfield positions. His power, though, has been his calling card as a prospect but has more to do offensively as he navigates through the farm system.
Garcia is expected to begin the season with the Portland Sea Dogs, and if he can make strides with pitch selection, working counts, and being able to drive the baseball more consistently, the Red Sox envision the Venezuelan prospect as a future middle of the order bat.
If everything goes to plan for Garcia in 2025, he should call Polar Park home before the end of the season, and then he can set his sights on possibly helping the Red Sox in 2026.
“I don’t think it’s unrealistic to say he’s finishing the season in Triple-A,” Red Sox director of player development Brian Abraham said to reporters on Tuesday. “And because of the 40-man knocking on the door to potentially be a big leaguer and impact the game.”
