Ryan Garko - Professional Career - Cleveland Indians - 2006 Season

2006 Season

Entering the 2006 season, Baseball America ranked Garko as the fifth best prospect in the Indians' organization and the best at hitting for average. Garko attended spring training with the Indians in 2006. He was sent to Triple-A before the start of the season and began his season with the Buffalo Bisons. He injured his left wrist on April 21, but was not placed on the disabled list after x-rays turned up negative for a break. Garko hit .247 with 15 home runs, and 59 RBIs in 127 games at the Triple-A level. Garko was tied for second in bases on balls (45); and was tied for third in home runs, and RBIs on the Bisons' roster at the end of the season. He was called-up by the Indians on June 30, after Cleveland traded first baseman Eduardo Pérez to the Seattle Mariners. His first major league hit, a double, came on July 1, against the Cincinnati Reds. He hit his first home run a little over a month later, on August 10, against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Although Garko favored his traditional position of catcher, the Indians moved him to first base so he would have a better chance of competing for a major league roster spot. By September, he was the starting everyday first baseman for the Indians after Ben Broussard was traded to Seattle. Garko finished the season with a .292 batting average, 12 doubles, seven home runs, and 45 RBIs in 50 games at the major league level.