Jhostynxon Garcia only got into five games with the Boston Red Sox before being traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates as part of a five-player deal that brought Johan Oviedo back to Beantown. The former top prospect still thinks fondly on his time within the organization.
A victim of the Red Sox's excessively-discussed outfield logjam, Garcia simply had no place in an outfield occupied by Roman Anthony, Ceddanne Rafaela, Wilyer Abreu, and Jarren Duran.
His brief cup of coffee didn't yield much success (five strikeouts and one hit in nine plate appearances), but the 23-year-old outfielder had emerged as a Top 100 prospect by virtue of hitting hit .267/.340/.470 with 21 home runs and a 116 wRC+ in the minors in 2025. He was even better in 2024, hitting 23 bombs and producing a ridiculous 149 wRC+.
Now, he'll try to help turn around a wayward Pirates offense in 2026 and beyond.
Jhostynxon Garcia's success story with Red Sox is one worth reflecting on
"Thank you to the Boston Red Sox organization and the fans for believing in me since I was a kid from Venezuela chasing a dream. Your support helped shape the player and the man I am today, and I’ll always be grateful for the opportunity to wear that uniform," Garcia wrote in an Instagram post a couple of weeks after the trade.
Originally signed out of Venezuela for $350,000 in 2019, Garcia didn't actually make his professional debut until 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. He struggled for a few years before breaking out in 2024 as a power-hitting outfielder with a strong arm.
It's a testament to both him and the Red Sox organization that they kept working on his swing and frame until something clicked. Adding 20-plus pounds of muscle certainly helped, but Garcia is now one of the faster swingers among all prospects — a skill the Red Sox have been honing in on since Craig Breslow took over the front office.
Funnily enough, Jhostynxon's brother, Johanfran, signed with the Red Sox for $850,000 in 2022. He remains with the organization, having reached High-A Greenville in 2025 at the age of 20. Unlike his brother, the younger Garcia is a catcher, though he also possesses plus raw power.
Though it's difficult to let go of a fan-favorite prospect before he really has a chance to shine in the majors, the Red Sox did the right thing by trading from a position of extreme depth for another high-upside starting pitcher. Here's hoping Garcia emerges as the superstar we all know he's capable of being in Pittsburgh.