Garate Promoted to Big Leagues

September 4, 2009 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Great Lakes Loons News Release

The Washington Nationals have announced that newly acquired left-handed pitcher Victor Garate has been added to the team's Major League roster. Garate played for the Loons in 2008 and becomes the second former Loons player to advance to the Majors, joining Dodgers left-handed pitcher Clayton Kershaw.

Garate was traded to the Nationals in the Ronnie Belliard trade as the player to be named later. Loons pitcher Luis Garcia also went to the Nationals in that transaction.

The 24-year old left hander from Venezuela is scheduled to join Washington for its Friday matchup at home against the Florida Marlins. Interestingly, the Nationals play the Dodgers September 22-24 in DC.

He split 2008 with the Loons and Inland Empire. With Great Lakes, he was 6-3 with a sparkling 1.85 ERA in 17 appearances (12 starts). In 77 2/3 innings with the Loons he struck out 103 batters, walking 28. He later appeared in seven games in the California League and compiled a 3-0 record. That season was Garate's first in the Dodgers' organization after being acquired from Houston in the Minor League Rule 5 draft.

Garate had spent this season with the Chattanooga Lookouts (Double-A, Southern League), where he posted a 2.04 ERA and a .191 opponents' batting average in 47 appearances.

He is 23-7 with 15 saves and a 3.25 ERA in five professional seasons. With 404 strikeouts in 315 1/3 innings, Garate has posted 11.53 strikeouts per nine innings during his career. He was rated among the Dodgers' Top 25 prospects by Baseball America entering the 2009 season. Garate's first appearance with the Nationals will mark his big league debut. He will wear No. 56.

Information from MLB.com was used in this release.

The Great Lakes Loons are the third-year Single-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers and members of the Midwest League. For more information about the Loons, visit Loons.com or call 989-837-BALL.

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