How Maikel Garcia overcame the odds to receive contract extension with Royals
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Royals signed Maikel Garcia to a five-year, $57.5M extension after breakout season.
- Offseason stance tweak and coaching work produced All-Star offense and Gold Glove.
- Defense, situational hitting and competitiveness anchor Garcia in Royals’ core plans.
Prior to the 2024 campaign, Kansas City Royals general manager J.J. Picollo approached Maikel Garcia with a proposition.
Garcia had shown incremental growth in his first full season. He hit .272 with 126 hits, 20 doubles and 50 RBIs in 123 games. Garcia also showed defensive instincts that granted him the opportunity to stick at third base.
The pieces were in place for a breakout season. Picollo understood Garcia’s value and wanted to secure him with a contract extension.
“We were very confident in Maikel’s abilities a long time ago,” Picollo said.
Garcia, 25, had an incentive to play well. He understood just how important an extension would be for his family and community. It would be a life-changing moment after he signed with the Royals for just $30,000 as a teenager in Venezuela.
However, Garcia didn’t take the next step in his development. His numbers took a downturn and he categorized the 2024 campaign as the worst in his career. The critics dissected his performance and Garcia knew he needed to restore the Royals’ faith in his production.
“When the team told me of the extension, I was more worried about it than playing,” Garcia said. “... (Just) doing too much to get my extension. Yeah, when the season was over, I just moved on and focused on the postseason. Then, right when we were eliminated, I just focused on playing better and doing something different to help my team.”
Garcia worked all offseason to get better. He didn’t play winter ball in Venezuela and spent the majority of his time working on his batting stance. He worked with the Royals hitting coaches to add a toe-tap and avoid crashing through the strike zone.
The offensive changes worked. Garcia entered spring training with a different mentality and a renewed focus to show he was a dependable player.
And the Royals saw the long-awaited breakout campaign. Garcia made his first All-Star team and earned a Gold Glove at third base. He posted a 5.8 WAR (wins above replacement) and posted career highs with 16 home runs and 74 RBIs.
“I was just trying to be the guy I was,” Garcia said. “Put the ball more in play and just get on base for the guys behind me. Trying to do a better job, and so I did. I didn’t hit at leadoff as I was a cleanup hitter this year. I just did my job.”
The Royals rewarded Garcia with a five-year contract extension this week. He will receive $57.5 million guaranteed with a club option in 2031.
Garcia is the latest Royal to be signed for the long haul. He joins Bobby Witt Jr., Salvador Perez, Cole Ragans, Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha as recent players to sign extensions.
“When we think about the Royals and what our identity is, he embodies everything we look for in a position player,” Picollo said. “We talk about defense, situational hitting and baserunning. You can check all three boxes with Maikel. But the one that’s probably most important is the fearlessness and competitiveness that he has. And it’s very evident when he plays that’s a part of who he is. We can’t teach that. We can’t teach it at all, but he has it. He’s had it since the day he was signed.”
Garcia was elated to share the moment with his mom on Wednesday. He leaned on her support throughout his baseball journey. Now, both were able to experience the special honor at Kauffman Stadium.
“It’s pretty special,” Garcia said. “You guys know my father passed away like 17 years ago. So my mom took care of me and my grandma.”
The Royals now have one of the top duos on the left side of the infield. Garcia can play multiple positions, but he will remain at third base.
“We had four years of control prior to this extension, but I think that’s a sign of how much we believe in him as a player,” Picollo said. “We wanted to reward him for what he has done as a player and how he represents and is going to help our team.”
The Royals continued to improve their roster this offseason. In addition to Garcia’s extension, the club added Lane Thomas in free agency. KC also acquired Isaac Collins and Nick Mears from the Milwaukee Brewers.
Garcia is a fundamental piece of the club’s future. He has come a long way since being the 128-pound kid from La Sabana, Venezuela. Now, he is an emerging star who can lead the Royals back to the postseason.
“I think I have everything,” Garcia said. “I have my house and my car and I don’t need no more. Focus on baseball and be happy. That’s a great Christmas.”
