The Philadelphia Phillies officially placed outfielder Adolis García on the 60-day injured list Friday, citing a right latissimus dorsi tear. The move effectively ends any hope that the two-time All-Star would turn around what has become a nightmare first season in Philadelphia.
García, who signed with the Phillies over the winter, has looked nothing like the player who terrorized American League pitching for years. Through 67 games, he posted a slash line of just .195/.270/.329 — a far cry from the 30-homer power the front office thought it was getting. The injury itself, a tear in the lat muscle beneath the right shoulder, typically sidelines players for multiple months and often requires surgery.
A Roster Shuffle in the Outfield
To fill the gap, the Phillies recalled outfielder Gabriel Rincones Jr. from Triple-A. Veteran Derek Hill, recently acquired in a trade, also joined the big-league club, while outfielder Steward Berroa was placed on the paternity list. The team now faces an immediate depth issue in the outfield, with García joining Brandon Marsh and Johan Rojas on the IL — a scenario that few expected when camp opened.
Philadelphia’s front office is reportedly weighing external options. According to league insiders, the Phillies have already begun preliminary calls to gauge the trade market for outfield help, though no deal is imminent. The team is believed to prefer a rental player who wouldn’t require surrendering top prospects.
What Went Wrong for García
The fall has been steep. From 2021 through 2023, García was one of baseball’s most feared right-handed bats, mashing 77 home runs and driving in 241 runs for the Texas Rangers. His 2023 postseason — when he hit .323 with eight homers and 22 RBIs — cemented his reputation as a big-game performer. But Philadelphia never saw that version. His strikeout rate spiked, his chase rate ballooned, and his hard-hit percentage dropped to a career low.
“It’s been a frustrating year for him, no question,” a team source told reporters recently. “He’s been grinding through stuff physically that we didn’t fully appreciate until now.”
The lat tear may explain some of that decline. Pitchers and position players alike often struggle with latent shoulder and back issues before an injury becomes acute. For García, the timing couldn’t be worse — the Phillies are fighting to keep pace in a tight NL East race, and every loss in the outfield hurts.
More updates on García’s recovery timeline and Philadelphia’s trade intentions are expected in the coming days.
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