Justin Garza Bio
Justin Charles Garza, born on March 20, 1994, is an American professional baseball pitcher who is currently a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cleveland Indians, Boston Red Sox, and New York Mets, making his MLB debut in 2021. A former draft pick of the Cleveland Indians, Garza has spent parts of his professional career moving between the major league rosters and Triple-A affiliates before becoming a free agent.
Over the course of his career, Justin Charles Garza has appeared in the majors with three organizations and has contributed out of the bullpen at both the Triple-A and MLB levels. After most recently being designated for assignment by the New York Mets in September 2025, he elected free agency and became available to sign with any club.
Early Life and Background
Justin Charles Garza grew up in Ontario, California, and attended Bonita High School, where he developed into a highly regarded pitching prospect. As a senior, he was named a high school All-American by Baseball America after posting a 12–1 record on the mound with a 0.72 earned run average and 101 strikeouts over 88 innings pitched. His senior performance drew the attention of MLB scouts and led to his selection in the 26th round of the 2012 MLB draft by the Cleveland Indians.
Rather than sign with Cleveland out of high school, Justin Charles Garza chose to attend Cal State Fullerton, where he played college baseball for the Cal State Fullerton Titans across three seasons. As a freshman, he went 12–0 with a 2.03 ERA and a team-leading 95 strikeouts, earning Big West Conference pitcher of the year honors. His junior season was cut short by a partially torn UCL that required Tommy John surgery, and he finished his collegiate career with a 21–7 record, a 2.64 ERA, and 208 strikeouts across 252⅔ innings pitched.
Path to Major League Baseball
After his junior year at Cal State Fullerton, Justin Charles Garza was again selected by the Cleveland Indians, this time in the eighth round of the 2015 MLB draft. Following surgery, he spent the remainder of 2015 and much of 2016 rehabilitating before being assigned to the Arizona League Indians late in the 2016 season. In 2017, he pitched for the Single-A Lake County Captains, posting a 4–6 record and a 5.83 ERA across 26 appearances.
In 2018, Justin Charles Garza split time between the Low-A Mahoning Valley Scrappers and the High-A Lynchburg Hillcats of the Carolina League, going 5–6 with a 3.36 ERA in 18 combined games. He returned to Lynchburg in 2019 and posted a 6–9 record with a 4.99 ERA and 109 strikeouts across 119 innings of work. The 2020 minor league season was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, keeping him off the field for the year.
Justin Garza Career
Cleveland Indians / Guardians Era (2015–2022)
Justin Charles Garza began the 2021 season with the Akron RubberDucks of the Double-A Northeast before a quick promotion to the Triple-A Columbus Clippers. In 12 appearances for Columbus, he posted a 0.44 ERA with 28 strikeouts, prompting Cleveland to select his contract on June 24, 2021. He made his MLB debut on June 27, 2021, pitching 2⅔ innings of one-run relief with three strikeouts against the Minnesota Twins in an 8–2 loss. On July 31, 2021, he earned his first career win after pitching two scoreless innings in a 12–11 victory over the Chicago White Sox.
Following the 2021 season, the Indians rebranded as the Guardians and designated Justin Charles Garza for assignment on November 19, 2021. After clearing waivers, he was outrighted to Triple-A Columbus, where he recorded a 4.64 ERA with 50 strikeouts and 7 saves across 42⅔ innings in 37 relief outings. He elected minor league free agency on November 10, 2022, ending his second stint in the Cleveland organization.
Los Angeles Angels and Boston Red Sox (2022–2023)
On December 12, 2022, Justin Charles Garza signed a one-year, major league deal with the Los Angeles Angels. He was optioned to the Triple-A Salt Lake Bees to begin the 2023 season, where he made six appearances and posted a 4.32 ERA with five strikeouts across 8⅓ innings before being designated for assignment on April 21, 2023.
On April 28, 2023, Justin Charles Garza was claimed off waivers by the Boston Red Sox and optioned to the Triple-A Worcester Red Sox. He was added to Boston’s active roster on May 16, optioned back to Worcester on July 8, and briefly recalled for two days later that month. In 17 games for Boston, he posted a 7.36 ERA with 17 strikeouts across 18⅓ innings. On November 2, 2023, Garza was removed from the 40-man roster and outrighted to Triple-A Worcester, and he rejected the assignment to elect free agency on November 6.
San Francisco Giants and New York Mets (2024–2025)
On March 7, 2024, Justin Charles Garza signed a minor league contract with the San Francisco Giants. In 39 appearances across the Single-A San Jose Giants and Triple-A Sacramento River Cats, he compiled a 5–2 record with a 3.60 ERA, 63 strikeouts, and 4 saves across 55 innings pitched. He re-signed with the Giants on a minor league contract on November 24, 2024.
Justin Charles Garza began 2025 with the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats, posting a 1–2 record and a 6.11 ERA with 20 strikeouts and six saves across 17⅔ innings. On June 7, 2025, he was traded to the New York Mets in exchange for cash considerations, and his contract was selected two days later. In five appearances for the Mets, he recorded a 5.40 ERA with three strikeouts across 6⅔ innings. He was designated for assignment on September 7, 2025, and elected free agency after clearing waivers on September 9.
Justin Garza Personal Life
Personal Background
Justin Charles Garza was born and raised in Ontario, California, the same community where he attended Bonita High School and first gained attention as a top pitching prospect. His decision to attend Cal State Fullerton rather than sign with the Cleveland Indians out of high school shaped his path back to professional baseball after his junior season.
Justin Garza 2025 Season Performance
Justin Charles Garza opened the 2025 season with the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats, where he posted a 1–2 record with a 6.11 ERA, 20 strikeouts, and six saves across 17⅔ innings. A midseason trade to the New York Mets on June 7 brought him back to the major leagues, and the Mets selected his contract on June 9 to add him to their active roster.
In five relief appearances for the Mets, Justin Charles Garza logged a 5.40 ERA with three strikeouts across 6⅔ innings pitched. His time in the Mets bullpen was cut short when the club designated him for assignment on September 7, 2025, and he cleared waivers to elect free agency two days later. With free agency secured in September, Garza entered the offseason available to sign with any major league organization.