After playing his first game at first base on Aug. 17, Jhostynxon Garcia is ready to continue to play the new position with Triple-A Worcester.
WORCESTER — The Password has changed positions.
Well, at least for one day. And for a few in the future.
On Sunday, Jhostynxon Garcia (aka “The Password") played his first professional baseball game at first base during Triple-A Worcester’s final game of a road series in Des Moines, Iowa.
Two days later, before he played center field in the WooSox’ 4-3 win over the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp at Polar Park, Garcia told the T&G how he felt about his first game at first base.
“I got plays in the game that we were mimicking here (at Polar Park) with turf work, but naturally I was a little nervous playing a position I haven’t played before in a game,” the 22-year-old said Aug. 19. “But I was fortunate enough to get plays that were not too crazy or too difficult.”
Across eight innings of his team’s 8-5 loss to the Iowa Cubs Sunday, Garcia garnered six total chances at first base with six putouts (including one double play) for a fielding percentage of 1.000.
Not bad for the usual outfielder, who finally received a first baseman's mitt of his own last week after borrowing from other WooSox players the previous 10 days.
Jhostynxon “The Password” Garcia got his own first base glove now.
— Tommy Cassell (@tommycassell44) August 19, 2025
He played first base for the first time for the WooSox on Sunday, and previously was borrowing Kristian Campbell’s first base mitt when learning how to play the position. pic.twitter.com/oX06IbChAl
“Obviously, he didn’t get a ton of chances on the ground, but he handled the throws,” WooSox manager Chad Tracy said. “Mostly, you’re looking at that. As they put balls in play (and) they throw it across to him, does the footwork look proper? Does he look comfortable receiving throws? Which he did, and he had a really good pick on that double play. That was not an easy pick, and he handled that.
“So I thought, all things considered, first time out there, he did fine.”
Exactly two weeks after Garcia first started working on introductory turf work with ground balls at first base, the Red Sox’ No. 2 prospect (per MLB.com rankings) saw his first live game action at his new position.
“I’m starting to feel comfortable now,” Garcia told the T&G. “The progression that we’ve done to get ready for the game is something I’m prepared for. I’m comfortable enough to where I feel like I can manage myself there a couple of games at first.”
At the plate, Garcia continues to give the Red Sox a reason to think about promoting him to Boston (especially given their lack of offensive production at the first base position) for their playoff push. The right-handed hitter is currently batting .303 with 17 home runs and 56 RBIs in 66 games since being called up to Triple A on May 20.
So Tracy, could we see Garcia get more opportunities at first base this week in Worcester?
“We’ll definitely put him out there again this week,” Tracy said. “Once or twice, and pick the right time.”
The Password is up for the next opportunity to play his new position.
“It’s something I feel like I’m ready to play,” Garcia said. “Whenever (Tracy) lets me know, one game, two games, whatever they tell me, I’m going to be ready to go.”
—Contact Tommy Cassell at [email protected]. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @tommycassell44.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Jhostynxon Garcia plays first game at first base with Worcester Red Sox
Category: Baseball
