Maikel Garcia's Elbow Surgery: Impact on Royals' Offseason Plans

Royals infielder Maikel Garcia recently underwent surgery to remove a bone spur from his right elbow, according to a tweet from Daniel Álvarez-Montes of El Extrabase. The Royals have yet to announce whether this procedure will affect Garcia's availability for Spring Training.

Garcia, who was scheduled to participate in winter ball in his native Venezuela, shared in an X post over the weekend that he would instead return to Kansas City for x-rays. The specific timing of the injury remains unclear, as Garcia did not spend any time on the injured list this past season.

The 24-year-old had a busy year, playing in 157 regular season games and all six postseason contests. Manager Matt Quatraro frequently placed him at third base and at the top of the batting order. However, with the recent acquisition of Jonathan India, Garcia is no longer expected to fill the leadoff role. Depending on how the Royals decide to utilize India and second baseman Michael Massey, Garcia is likely to remain the starting third baseman.

While Garcia's offensive contributions were modest, with a batting line of .231/.281/.332 and seven home runs across 626 plate appearances, he excelled in other areas. Known for his speed, Garcia successfully stole 37 bases in 39 attempts and was rated as one of the league's top baserunners. Defensively, he was impressive as well, with Statcast and Defensive Runs Saved both rating him as three runs better than average over roughly 1000 innings at third base.

Garcia's multifaceted skills make him a valuable asset to the Royals, even if he is best suited to batting in the lower third of the lineup. As the offseason progresses, the Royals will be closely monitoring his recovery and making adjustments to their lineup as necessary.

​His surgical procedure and potential recovery timeline will undoubtedly be key factors in Kansas City's preparations for the upcoming season. The hope is that Garcia can return to full strength and continue to contribute both offensively and defensively as the Royals aim for a successful 2024 campaign.