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Texas Tech Shortstop Orlando Garcia Reportedly To Forego Senior Season

By Matthew Conner

Jun 23, 2016; Omaha, NE, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders infielder Orlando Garcia (2) fields a ball in front of infielder Michael Davis (3) to start a double play in the ninth inning against the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers at the 2016 College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park. Coastal Carolina defeated Texas Tech 7-5. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 23, 2016; Omaha, NE, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders infielder Orlando Garcia (2) fields a ball in front of infielder Michael Davis (3) to start a double play in the ninth inning against the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers at the 2016 College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park. Coastal Carolina defeated Texas Tech 7-5. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports /
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According to at least one media report, Texas Tech shortstop Orlando Garcia has decided to skip his senior season and play professionally for the San Francisco Giants organization.

When a school has a team as talented as the 2017 Texas Tech baseball team, losses to the major leagues are a given.  Sunday,  it was reported that first team all-Big 12 shortstop Orlando Garcia will leave Texas Tech after his junior season to play minor league baseball for the San Francisco Giants.

This news was broken by El Paso’s NBC Channel 9 reporter Andy Morgan. Garcia is an El Paso native who played his high school baseball at Americas High School.

The MLB Draft is different than other professional drafts in that players can return to school after the draft if they are not happy with where they were taken.  Players can be drafted out of high school or following their junior or senior seasons in college.

Orlando Garcia was selected in the 15th round by the Giants.  This comes after he was not drafted at all out of high school.

"“I wasn’t looked at much in high school. Texas Tech was my one big offer, and I took it and ran with it.” he told the “Lubbock Avalanche Journal”."

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Over the next three years. Garcia turned that opportunity into one of the best careers in Texas Tech baseball history.  After taking over for former all-Big 12 shortstop Tim Proudfoot, Orlando Garcia made his own mark on the program.

In 159 career games, he hit .280 with 20 homers and 110 RBI.  He was also one of the best fielders in the nation posting .969 fielding percentage in 2017 when he made only seven errors all season.

"“As a shortstop, you have to be defensively sound,” Garcia said. “And that’s biggest part of my game that I take pride in.”."

Garcia’s loss will be significant.  He was the team leader in home runs and RBI this year.

One potential replacement could be 2016 high school signee Gabe Holt Gabe Holt .  The Georgia prospect earned all-state honors this year and is one of the top middle infield prospects in the nation.

Next: Texas Tech Baseball Loaded For 2018 Run

But whether Orlando Garcia’s successor is a newcomer or a player already on the roster, it will be tough for Texas Tech to replace the all-around excellent Garcia provided for three years. Wreck ‘Em Red wishes Orlando Garcia all the best as he continues to chase his baseball dreams.

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