FROM CBB NEWS SOURCE
NEW ORLEANS – Former University of New Orleans pitcher Justin Garcia has returned to the Lakefront to serve as an assistant coach on Bruce Peddie’s staff, the athletic department formally announced on Wednesday.
Garcia’s primary responsibility will be to serve as the pitching coach, while also assisting with recruiting.
A member of the UNO baseball team from 2004 through 2008, Garcia spent the last two years pitching professionally at the Rookie and Single A level in the Kansas City Royals organization. The right-handed pitcher compiled an 8-7 record with a 3.32 ERA.
In 122 innings of professional experience, Garcia struck out 100 opposing batters with the Violet, La. native’s best results came at the Rookie level as he was 4-1 with a 2.60 ERA for Idaho Falls.
Prior to signing with the Royals organization as an undrafted player in June 2008, Garcia was one of the anchors on head coach Tom Walter’s pitching staff that reached the NCAA Division I tournament in 2007 and 2008.
“We’re excited to have Garcia back here as part our staff” said Peddie, who coached Garcia on the 2007 and 2008 NCAA tournament teams. “As a former player, he brings a lot to passion to the job and the desire to help us reach new heights.”
In 2008, Garcia went 6-2 with a 5.77 ERA while registering seven strikeouts on five separate occasions. Garcia struck out 73 that year while winning his first six decisions, including a complete game victory at Troy on Mar. 28, in which he carried a no-hitter into the eighth inning.
A big game pitcher for the Privateers, Garcia got the start in the 2007 SBC Championship game win over Louisiana-Lafayette on two days rest after throwing 100 pitches in UNO’s tournament-opening victory. The previous year, Garcia went eight innings in a SBC tournament victory over Florida International.
UNO’s career co-leader with 84 mound appearances, Garcia pitched 296 innings and struck out 224 opposing batters while winning 19 games.
Garcia prepped at Hannan High School.
