Venezuelan Bat Shortstops Take Home Olympic Glory in Major League Clash!
Maikel Garcia won WBC tournament MVP for Venezuela. The Royals 3B is already an All-Star and Gold Glove winner
Even the avid baseball fan would have acknowledged that were Venezuela to win the World Baseball Classic , Ronald Acuña Jr. would likely be the MVP. Maikel Garcia made sure to keep it in the family.
He's almost better-known as the cousin of the great Atlanta Braves outfielder, but in leading Venezuela to its first World Baseball Classic championship, Garcia forged his own road to stardom. Garcia led the WBC with 10 hits in seven games and they came in almost every form: A home run, a bunt single and a pair of doubles as he drove in seven runs and stole three bases – absolute kerosene in Venezuela’s No. 2 hole between Acuña and three-time batting champion Luis Arráez.
It’s a key coming-out party for Garcia, the Kansas City Royals third baseman who secured his long-term future by signing a five-year, $57. 5 million contract extension with the Royals a year ago. He responded with a season worthy of some down-ballot MVP consideration, amassing 5.
8 WAR while hitting 16 homers with an . 800 OPS. Still, higher-profile teammates were scattered all over this World Baseball Classic, with Bobby Witt Jr.