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Pitcher Justin Garza was thinking of quitting the game he loved under the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 when he fought in the smaller leagues.
When Garza joins the New York Mets now after an appointment with San Francisco Giants, he credits one thing to save his career.
A video game.
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Boston Red Sox Starting jug Justin Garza, #63, responds after giving up a home drive to Minnesota Twins, who was appointed Hitter Byron Buxton during the first place on Target Field. (Jeffrey Becker-usa Today Sports)
“The MLB show was actually a big part of me that I learned to beat and find out how to pitch,” Garza told the New York Post. “It’s sometimes so realistic that just playing that video game.”
Garza is not the only player in professional sports who uses video games to prepare for games or rework their mechanics.
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Garza specifically uses Game Mode Diamond Dynasty, where he said the various camera angles helped him experience how to use his seats. With the help of a catcher vision to pitch he began to rework his arsenal.
Although not intentional, he was glad that something clicked by playing the game.
“When I started playing more and more, it was like, ‘OK, yes, I actually have a cutter, I have this FIRSØM, I have this shift, and maybe my stuff can play like this,” Garza told the post.
Boston Red Sox Relief Pitcher Justin Garza, #63, seats during the eighth round against Miami Marlins in Fenway Park. (Bob Dechiara-usa Today Sports)
Garza was a draft of the eighth round of Cleveland Guardians in 2015, but he fought in his first taste of professional ball. He was only able to place a season with an era under five years and owns a 3.36 ERA in 2018.
However, the pandemic break saw Garza as a rejuvenated hurry on the haug.
Garza posted a 1.59 era with 31 strikes over 14 games in Triple-A Columbus before being called up for the first time in his career. He had 21 appearances in 2021 in the big leagues.
He did not return to the big leagues before 2023, this time with Boston Red Sox, but it did not go according to plan. Garza had an 8.35 ERA in 17 appearances (a start) before moving to Giants.
Justin Garza, #6 of San Francisco Giants, throws a pitch in the ninth lap against the Sacramento River Cats in Sutter Health Park on March 23, 2025 in Sacramento, California. (Scott Marshall/Getty Images)
Garza was in Triple-A Sacramento this year before moving to Mets.
Garza has played a game of mets that threw two -thirds of an inning with two strikes in his first performance.
