Matt Garza is the pitcher electric, plowing through the minors and living life in the fast lane, going about 110 mph.
Only 22, Garza already is the father of a 4-year-old son and 9-month-old daughter. He’s also just 14 months removed from college but is knocking on the door of a major-league call-up with the Minnesota Twins.
He began the season at Class A Fort Myers. Next he zipped to the Double-A New Britain Rock Cats, where he threw a 1-hitter in his debut with Twins general manager Terry Ryan in attendance. Now he dominates International League hitters after being promoted following the All-Star break.
Through July, he was second in the minor leagues in wins (13) and third in strikeouts (142). Overall, Garza has gone 13-4 with a spanking 2.09 ERA.
“If Terry Ryan called me right now, I’d say Garza is ready,” says Triple-A Rochester manager Stan Cliburn. “Yes, he is young. But he has the maturity factor and he is simply dominating hitters in this (International) league. He’s electrifying.”
In late July, the Twins’ manager floated Garza’s name to reporters as a possible call-up, even though the right-hander had made only two Triple-A appearances at the time.
Garza was so shaken that night that he held the potent Charlotte Knights to three hits, one a bunt single, in a complete-game 1-0 victory. He threw 126 pitches that night and was clocked at 97 mph on his 123rd throw.
“He didn’t lose anything,” said Charlotte’s Ernie Young, the 15-year veteran who struck out twice and flied out to end the game against Garza. “He showed me a lot of poise out there.”
“I know he’s young,” Cliburn says, “but his maturity level is such that I think he could go up there right now and succeed. I really do.”
The 6-4, 190-pound Garza grew up in the suburbs of Fresno, California. He followed the Yankees and Dodgers but had no real pitching idol.
Garza was an outstanding quarterback at Washington Union High with 2,411 yards and 30 touchdown passes his senior year alone. Like many quarterbacks assessing pathways to pro prosperity, he went for his first love, baseball.
Matt was selected in the 40th round of the 2002 draft by the Colorado Rockies. He had just became a father at age 18, however, and chose to play for hometown Fresno State over minor-league ball.
“Getting to pitch in front of my son every home game was awesome,” he says.
After three solid seasons at Fresno State, he re-entered the June Draft and was chosen by the Twins with the 25th overall pick last year.
Twins farm director Jim Rantz loves that Garza is a power pitcher with smarts.
“He runs the ball in on hitters and uses both sides of the plate, and he’ll challenge guys,” Rantz says. “He’s usually ahead of the hitters. His durability and strength are going to be plusses for him, that’s for sure.”
- Jim MANDELARO
