Suarez talks about playing with his battery mate Garcia since high school pic.twitter.com/tDSh5WwsC8
— SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) September 1, 2018
The connection between a pitcher and a catcher is an often sacred bond built on trust and understanding. For Giants rookies Andy Suarez and Aramis Garcia, it is a bond that dates back to their high school days, pitching and catching together on their summer ball team, the Florida Legends.
Suarez said the two met in their sophomore year of high school. The two started playing together on the Legends in their junior year and have kept in touch ever since. And on Friday night, in Garcia’s major league debut with the Giants, he caught Suarez for a seven-inning, three-hit shutout and hit his first career homer in a 7-0 win over the New York Mets. Despite that, not much has changed, Suarez said, except for maybe a shake off or two.
“He’s been catching me since high school, so he’s known me forever,” Suarez said. “I told him, ‘Nothing’s changed, same gameplan.’ I probably shrugged him off about twice, but that’s about it. I love the way he calls a game.”
Garcia said catching Suarez helped calm his nerves.
“That’s what it’s all about right,” Garcia said. “I think to have my first start with him pitching I think definitely put me at ease a little bit. It was awesome, he did an unbelievable job tonight.”
Garcia on his big night pic.twitter.com/JnAQ0sIQsQ
— SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) September 1, 2018
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