**Title:** Justin Garza Credits Video Game for Career Revival
**Meta Description:** Pitcher Justin Garza reveals how playing a video game helped him refine his pitching skills and revive his baseball career.
**URL Slug:** justin-garza-video-game-career-revival
**Headline:** Justin Garza Attributes Career Turnaround to Video Game Experience
In a remarkable turn of events, pitcher Justin Garza, who once contemplated leaving baseball during the struggles of the COVID-19 pandemic, has found new life in his career after joining the New York Mets from the San Francisco Giants. Garza attributes a significant part of his revival to an unexpected source: a video game.
“MLB The Show actually was a big part about me learning how to pitch and figuring out how to pitch,” Garza shared in an interview. He emphasized the game’s realism, which allowed him to better understand his pitching mechanics.
Garza specifically utilized the Diamond Dynasty mode, where he discovered that different camera angles provided insights into his pitching style. By adopting a catcher’s perspective, he began to rework his pitching arsenal, realizing the potential of his cutter, four-seam fastball, and changeup. “Once I started to play more and more, it was like, ‘OK, well, I actually have a cutter, I have this four-seam, I have this changeup, and maybe my stuff can play like this,” he explained.
Drafted in the eighth round by the Cleveland Guardians in 2015, Garza faced challenges early in his professional career, managing only one season with an ERA below five. However, the pandemic break rejuvenated him, leading to a stellar performance in Triple-A Columbus, where he posted a 1.59 ERA with 31 strikeouts over 14 games. This success earned him his first call-up to the major leagues in 2021, where he made 21 appearances.
After a challenging stint with the Boston Red Sox in 2023, where he recorded an 8.35 ERA in 17 appearances, Garza found himself with the Giants before ultimately joining the Mets. In his debut with New York, he pitched two-thirds of an inning, striking out two batters, showcasing the skills he honed through gaming.
As Garza continues his journey with the Mets, his story serves as a testament to the unexpected ways athletes can find inspiration and improvement, even in the digital realm.
**FAQ:**
**Q: How did Justin Garza use video games to improve his pitching?**
A: Garza played “MLB The Show,” particularly the Diamond Dynasty mode, which helped him understand his pitching mechanics through realistic gameplay and different camera angles.
