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Calexico High and San Diego City College alumnus Kevin Garcia, 19, will play baseball at Loyola Marymount University. (JOSELITO VILLERO PHOTO / August 8, 2012) |
Kevin Garcia’s dream of becoming a professional baseball player took one step closer this past summer.
The 2010 Calexico High graduate and 2012 San Diego City College graduate received a combined athletic and academic full-ride scholarship to play at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles.
“One of my goals was to go to a Division I school but some people told me I was too slow, too short, too fat,” Garcia, 19, said. “Accomplishing my goal of going to Division I is a dream come true …. the next goal is to get drafted (MLB draft) and get up there as soon as I can.”
The Calexico resident graduated with an associate’s degree in social science from SDCC.
The switch-hitting catcher and middle infielder caught the LMU Lions’ attention with his ability to hit from both sides of the plate. He also got calls from Texas A&M and Oregon.
“They (LMU) like my movement, hard arm and the fact that I’m a switch hitter, which they say is rare for catchers,” Garcia said.
LMU offered him the combined scholarships, a better offer than Texas A&M and Oregon. They also told him the starting catcher position is his.
“They told me I was going to be the starting catcher but you never know,” Garcia said. “They can say one thing but you have to work and prove that you’re worth it.”
That’s always been his goal — proving he belongs.
“That’s my priority right now, just trying to focus right now, prove myself academically and baseball-wise,” Garcia said. “It’s a very challenging school to go since they have very good GPA athletes there.”
The Lions also boast a competitive program that finished fourth of nine teams in the West Coast Conference with a conference record of 14-10 and 27-27 overall.
More importantly for Garcia’s dream of making the MLB, the Lions also produce quality players that move on to the MLB. More recently, that includes starter Ryan Wheeler who made his debut with the Arizona Diamondbacks on July 20.
“If there’s an opportunity, I’ma go,” Garcia said. “I’ma keep trying … there’s always gonna be one chance.”
His fall back plan is law school, he’ll become a lawyer.
“I’m just hoping I get above a 3.5 GPA, become a starting catcher or wherever the coach puts me and hopefully get some looks and get drafted this year, if not next year,” Garcia said.
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