Before Luis García Jr. puts on a Yankees uniform, he said his goodbyes to the city he called home for seven seasons in a post on social media.
García was traded to the Yankees on Sunday afternoon in a deal with the Nationals that included pitchers Yovanny Cruz, Jake Bird and prospects Ben Grable and Jack Cebert going to Washington. The move was an emotional one for García, who signed with the Nationals as an international free agent in 2016 and made his MLB debut in 2020.
In a lengthy post on Instagram, which included a number of photos from his time with the Nationals, he thanked Washington and said that he wanted to “express my heartfelt gratitude” to the organization for “believing in me.”
“To everyone throughout the organization—from the front office, coaches, trainers, medical staff, clubhouse staff, and all those who work behind the scenes—thank you for your guidance, support, and commitment throughout my journey. I have grown not only as a player but also as a person because of the incredible people I had the privilege of being around every day.
“To my teammates, thank you for the memories, the battles, and the brotherhood we shared on and off the field. Those moments will stay with me forever.
“To the incredible fans, thank you for welcoming me from day one. Your passion, loyalty, and unwavering support meant more than words can ever express. It has truly been an honor to represent you.”
García described Washington as a “second home” and explained that he was departing the nation’s capital “with nothing but gratitude, respect, and appreciation” for everyone he’s met along the way during his time there.
The infielder joins the Yankees amid a season in which he has a .283 batting average and 23 home runs, while also recording an .873 OPS and a .560 slugging percentage.
The Yankees made the trade official Sunday evening, and there was excitement about the addition inside the clubhouse.
“I know he’s a great hitter,” José Caballero said. “Excited to see him here and what he can contribute for the team.”
