| Robel García | |
| Team: | Unipolsai Fortitudo Bologna |
| Position: | Second base / Left fielder |
| Birth Date: | 28 March 1993 |
| Birth Place: | Las Matas de Farfán, Dominican Republic |
| Bats: | Switch |
| Throws: | Right |
| Debutleague: | MLB |
| Debutdate: | July 3 |
| Debutyear: | 2019 |
| Debutteam: | Chicago Cubs |
| Debut2league: | KBO |
| Debut2date: | July 26 |
| Debut2year: | 2022 |
| Debut2team: | LG Twins |
| Statleague: | MLB |
| Statyear: | 2021 season |
| Stat1label: | Batting average |
| Stat1value: | .174 |
| Stat2label: | Home runs |
| Stat2value: | 6 |
| Stat3label: | Runs batted in |
| Stat3value: | 19 |
| Stat2year: | 2022 season |
| Stat2league: | KBO |
| Stat21label: | Batting average |
| Stat21value: | .206 |
| Stat22label: | Home runs |
| Stat22value: | 4 |
| Stat23label: | Runs batted in |
| Stat23value: | 19 |
| Teams: | |
Robel Estiwal García Rodriguez[1] (born March 28, 1993) is an Italian-Dominican professional baseball infielder for the Unipolsai Fortitudo Bologna of the Italian Baseball League (IBL). He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago Cubs and in the KBO League for the LG Twins.
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.[2]
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.[3]
After being spotted during an exhibition series for Italy in the Arizona Instructional League, García signed a minor league deal with the Cubs in November 2018.[4] He started the 2019 season with the Tennessee Smokies before being promoted to the Iowa Cubs after 22 games.[5]
On July 3, 2019, the Cubs selected García's contract and promoted him to the major leagues.[6] He made his debut that night as a pinch hitter for Brandon Kintzler and struck out in his first at-bat.[7] 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.
García was claimed off waivers by the Cincinnati Reds on July 26, 2020.[8] García did not play in a game for Cincinnati in 2020.After the 2020 season, he played for Águilas Cibaeñas of the Dominican Professional Baseball League. He has also played for Dominican Republic in the 2021 Caribbean Series.
On October 26, 2020, García was claimed off waivers by the New York Mets.[9] On February 1, 2021, García was designated for assignment following the acquisition of Jordan Yamamoto.[10]
On February 3, 2021, García was claimed off waivers by the Los Angeles Angels.[11] On February 25, 2021, García was designated for assignment by the Angels following the waiver claim of Jack Mayfield.[12]
On February 27, 2021, García was claimed off waivers by the Houston Astros.[13] 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.[14] On September 18, he cleared waivers and was sent outright to the Triple-A Sugar Land Skeeters.[15]
On March 21, 2022, Garcia signed a minor league deal with the Chicago Cubs.[16] 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.[17]
On June 5, 2022, Garcia signed with the LG Twins of the KBO League.[18] He was released on October 7, 2022.
On May 12, 2023, García signed with the Leones de Yucatán of the Mexican League.[19] In 13 games, he batted .192/.309/.255 with 9 hits and 5 RBIs. García was released on May 30.[20]
On July 25, 2023, García signed with the UnipolSai Bologna of the Italian Baseball League.[21]
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.