Maikel Garcia Shares Heartfelt Message After Tough Season
Maikel Garcia’s 2026 Was Filled With Ups & Downs; But He’s Ready For 2027
Maikel Garcia shared the following message on Instagram (we translated from Spanish to English):
“A year filled with trials, injuries, sacrifices, and difficult moments that taught me far more than I ever imagined. Not everything went according to plan, but I came to realize that sometimes the most important victories aren’t won on the field, but within oneself.
I learned patience, to trust in God’s timing, and to find peace even amidst adversity. I’m wrapping up this season healthy—with a calm mind and a peaceful heart—and grateful for every obstacle that made me stronger.
It may not have been the year I expected, but it was certainly one of the years I needed most to grow as a person. Thank you, God, for never letting go of me.
In the end, peace is a victory, too.”
Though 2026 started out great for Maikel after winning the World Baseball Classic with Venezuela -- over a stacked US team where he would be named tournament MVP -- It was a tough regular season for the third baseman. He started the season pretty much replicating what he did last year but after developing a nagging injury in his hand muscle and playing through it for over a month, his numbers started to fall.
In the midst of that hand injury he also suffered a right hamstring strain of which he recovered relatively quickly but when his hand injury got to the point where he could no longer hit a foul ball without wincing in pain; the Royals placed him on the IL for about a month. Five games after coming back and balling out, he suffered another hamstring strain -- this time in his left hamstring -- that put him out until the end of September.
When he came back, he looked like himself again even though he was clearly not 100%. Near the end of the year, Maikel said this year was a wake up call for him and he’s committed to, in simplest terms, hit the weight room and really focus on avoiding injury to the best of his ability in 2027.
Can’t wait to see what #11 does next year in his fifth full Major League season!