LG Twins sign infielder Robel Garcia to replace Rio Ruiz

Robel Garcia [AP/YONHAP]

The LG Twins on Sunday announced the signing of Dominican infielder Robel Garcia for $180,000, filling the vacancy left by the departure of Rio Ruiz last week.

Garcia arrives in Seoul after an unusual career. The 29-year-old signed with the Cleveland Guardians, then the Cleveland Indians, in 2010 at 16 years old but was released in 2014 without ever playing in the majors.

After leaving Cleveland, Garcia moved to Italy with his family. He eventually ended up playing baseball again, even making it onto the Italian national squad in 2018. He was spotted while playing for Italy and signed a minor league contract with the Chicago Cubs in late 2018, before being selected by the major league club in the middle of the 2019 season.

Over a total of 78 major league appearances — with the Cubs in 2019 and the Houston Astros in 2021 — Garcia has a .174 batting average with 31 hits, 19 RBIs, 16 runs and six home runs. Across seven seasons in the minors, including with Cleveland at the start of his career, Garcia has a .236 batting average with 363 hits, 235 RBIs, 221 runs and 60 home runs.

Announcing Garcia's recruitment, the Twins noted that Garcia will not only prove a significant presence at the plate as a switch hitter, but is also expected to help bolster the club's infield defense.

Garcia joins the Twins after the club released Ruiz on May 30 after the former major leaguer failed to find his feet in the KBO.

Ruiz, who played 30 games in the majors for the Colorado Rockies last season, managed just 27 games in the KBO before his career here was cut short. He leaves the league with a .155 batting average with 13 hits, 10 RBIs and one home run having spent a large part of his time with the Twins playing for their Futures League team.

Garcia is the fourth mid-season foreign signee to join the KBO so far this season. Earlier in May, the KT Wiz dropped longstanding ace William Cuevas and outfielder Henry Ramos, and the Hanwha Eagles released pitcher Ryan Carpenter last week.

Cuevas got the chop first following an injury that took him out of action after just two games. He was replaced by former Chicago White Sox minor leaguer Wes Benjamin. Ramos, who joined the Wiz this season, suffered a toe fracture that has taken him out of action since April 23 and ultimately pushed the club to replace him. He was replaced by former major leaguer Anthony Alford.

The Eagles cut ties with Carpenter after elbow pain interrupted his season. He is being replaced by former Los Angeles Dodger pitcher Yefry Ramirez.

BY JIM BULLEY [jim.bulley@joongang.co.kr]