Jhostynxon

Garcia

The prospect better known as “The Password” came over from Boston in the offseason in a trade for Johan Oviedo, who is also on the injured list. Garcia is also off to a poor start at Triple-A, slashing .158/.186/.175 in 59 plate appearances with a 29 percent strikeout rate. Perhaps the back injury has played a part in those struggles.

This qualifies as a bit of a surprise since Garcia was off to a sizzling-hot start this spring, batting .405 (15-for-37) with two homers and three steals in 17 games. The calculus for the Pirates likely involves having the 23-year-old corner outfielder playing regularly on the doorstop of the majors as opposed to languishing in a part-time role at the highest level. His departure means that veteran offseason acquisition Ryan O’Hearn will open the year as Pittsburgh’s starting right fielder with Marcell Ozuna at DH.

Garcia’s exceptional performance in Grapefruit League action, which includes going 2-for-4 with a two-run homer on Friday against the Tigers, seemingly cements his spot on Pittsburgh’s season-opening roster as lefty-mashing platoon outfielder. The 23-year-old top prospect, who came over from the Red Sox in an offseason trade centered around Johan Oviedo, propensity to swing-and-miss amplifies the risk immediate risk as he acclimates to facing big-league pitching but he’s capable of generating enough hard contact to make an impact in deeper fantasy formats. The Password will go undrafted in most fantasy leagues this spring but he’s a name to watch on the early-season waiver wire front.

Garcia singled in the second inning and scored as Tyler Callihan worked a bases-loaded walk. The Password then victimized Tigers’ right-hander Casey Mize for a 373-foot (108.5 mph EV) two-run blast in the third inning that extended the Pirates’ early lead to 4-0. With his two-hit attack, the 23-year-old outfielder is now hitting a blistering .500 (14-for-28) on the spring with two homers, five RBI and three stolen bases.

The prospect known as “The Password” came over from the Red Sox in the offseason and has had a solid spring so far, going 7-for-13 with one home run, two strikeouts, and three walks. Garcia does most of his damage against left-handed pitching, and his home run came off lefty reliever JoJo Romero, so the Pirates may put him in a small-side platoon role to start, but he could emerge into a bigger role as the year goes on.

The trade is now official. Garcia’s path to an everyday role was blocked in Boston’s overcrowded outfield entering next season, but that obstacle disappears in Pittsburgh, where he should have a clear opportunity to play right away. “The Password” appeared in five games for the Red Sox this past season after batting .267/.340/.470 with 21 homers and seven steals across 114 games between Double-A Portland and Triple-A Worcester. He’s an intriguing fantasy prospect with real upside, despite some plate discipline question marks, and this move turbocharges his short-term relevance — though he’ll have to fight the realities of PNC Park, a notoriously unforgiving backdrop for right-handed pop. The 22-year-old power-hitting prospect could open next season as the Pirates’ starting left fielder and represents a potential late-round sleeper candidate in deeper fantasy formats.

The Red Sox are getting lefty Tyler Samaniego and catcher Adonys Guzman, with righty Jesus Travieso going to Pittsburgh — leaving Oviedo as the only established major leaguer involved in the trade. Garcia’s path to an everyday role was blocked in Boston’s overcrowded outfield entering next season, but that obstacle disappears in Pittsburgh, where he should have a clear opportunity to play right away. “The Password” appeared in five games for the Red Sox this past season after batting .267/.340/.470 with 21 homers and seven steals across 114 games between Double-A Portland and Triple-A Worcester. The deal makes a ton of sense for both sides as the Red Sox were able to bolster their starting rotation depth without sacrificing any of their major-league outfield depth while the Pirates swap some pitching depth for a high-upside, power-hitting corner outfield prospect.

With left-hander Cade Povich on the mound for the Orioles, the Red Sox are going with a right-handed-heavy lineup, which includes Refsnyder at DH and batting fifth. Jhostynxon Garcia is also starting in left field and batting ninth, while Nate Eaton will play centerfield and bat sixth.

Abreu is going to need more time than initially anticipated as he works his way back from a calf strain. It’s unclear how the roster will shake out with Rob Refsnyder (oblique) set to return from the injured list on Thursday. The obvious move involves jettisoning top prospect Jhostynxon Garcia back to the minors, but that’s the least exciting one for fantasy purposes.