By J.Y. Mortimer
PISCATAWAY, N.J. (July 21, 2023) – Mike Garza has been promoted to the role of Assistant Coach – Hitting for Rutgers baseball, head coach Steve Owens announced on Thursday. In his role, Garza will oversee RU’s hitters, infield defense and assist with the program’s recruiting.
“Mike will enter his third year in our program and will take over the primary hitting responsibilities with our team,” head coach Steve Owens said. “As he did with our infield, Mike will establish strong relationships with our hitters and develop specific plans to help them perform consistently. He is excited to get to work on evaluating our strengths and building our 2024 offense around them.”
Garza earned the promotion after two seasons as a volunteer assistant with the Scarlet Knights, where he was responsible for turning RU into one of the premier defensive teams in the country, while also assisting with hitting, baserunning and recruiting.
In 2023, Garza helped lead the Scarlet Knights to their second straight 30-win season and oversaw a defense that ranked fourth in the Big Ten with a .976 fielding percentage, despite new starters at all four infield spots. RU also turned 54 double plays, which led the Big Ten and was sixth in the country.
Under Garza’s guidance, shortstop Josh Kuroda-Grauer was named a semifinalist for the Brooks Wallace Award, which is given annually to the top shortstop in the country. After moving from second base to shortstop, Kuroda-Grauer saw increased offensive production across the board and established himself as an elite defender at a premier position, committing just six errors on the season and posting a .973 fielding percentage. After the season, Kuroda-Grauer received an invitation to USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team training camp.
In his first season on the Banks in 2022, Garza played a critical role in Rutgers having the best defense in the Big Ten. The emergence of an elite defense helped RU set a program record with 44 wins. The Scarlet Knights led the conference in fielding percentage, finishing the campaign with a mark of .980, including a .985 fielding percentage in the infield.
The middle infield duo of shortstop Danny DiGeorgio and second baseman Josh Kuroda-Grauer proved to be one of the best in the country, with DiGeorgio being named a finalist for the Brooks Wallace Award, given annually to the top shortstop in college baseball. Kuroda-Grauer committed just one error the entire season, while serving as the team’s every day starter at second base. Additionally, Tony Santa Maria and DiGeorgio each earned a spot on SportsCenter’s Top 10 plays for diving catches made in the series against Indiana.
Before arriving at Rutgers, Garza spent the three seasons (2019-21) on the Virginia staff as the program’s coordinator of video and scouting. The Cavaliers advanced to the College World Series in 2021, including winning four-straight elimination games in regional play.
Garza previously worked as an assistant coach at Navy in 2018. The Midshipmen posted 38 wins, the second most in program history, en route to the Patriot League Championship series.
Garza, who was drafted in the 20th round of the 2012 MLB Draft by the Milwaukee Brewers, spent four seasons in the Brewers’ minor league system. During that time, he played in 260 combined games over the Rookie, Low-A and Advanced-A levels, with a .283 batting average, 91 runs scored, 66 extra-base hits and 95 RBIs. In 2015 and 2016, Garza joined the independent ranks and played with the Joliet Slammers of the Frontier League. As a corner infielder in 113 games, he compiled a .290 batting average with 55 runs, 39 extra-base hits and 66 RBIs in his two seasons.
Prior to professional baseball, Garza’s collegiate playing career began at Stanford University before transferring to Georgetown University following his freshman season. As a member of the Hoyas, Garza suited up in the infield for 110 games and earned All-Big East First Team and ABCA All Mid-East Region playing honors in 2012.
His prowess in the regular season college ranks came in addition to his success on the summer baseball circuit with accolades including a nod as a 2010 Valley Baseball League All-Star and 2011 Cape Cod Baseball League Playoff MVP. As a member of the Harwich Mariners of the CCBL in 2011, Garza spearheaded the team’s title run and second league championship in four seasons.
A 2012 graduate of Georgetown University, Garza is a native of San Antonio, Texas, where he grew up and played high school baseball. Helping guide his team to two Texas 5-A State Playoff berths, Garza finished his prep career with a number of accolades including being named the 2008 Texas High School Baseball Player of the Year.
Garza is the oldest of three with both of his brothers, Eric (Georgetown, TCU) and Ramon (Cornell) also having established Division I baseball careers. Garza resides in New Jersey with his wife, Danielle, their son, Marcus and daughter, Gabriella.
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