Karim García facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Karim García
García at Los Pinos with the Tigres de Quintana Roo in 2013
Tigres de Quintana Roo
Right fielder / Manager
Born: (1975-10-29) October 29, 1975 (age 49) Ciudad Obregón, Mexico
Batted: Left Threw: Left
Professional debut
MLB: September 2, 1995, for the Los Angeles Dodgers
NPB: March 26, 2005, for the Orix Buffaloes
KBO: March 29, 2008, for the Lotte Giants
Last appearance
MLB: August 24, 2004, for the Baltimore Orioles
NPB: September 27, 2006, for the Orix Buffaloes
KBO: October 4, 2011, for the Hanwha Eagles
MLB statistics
Batting average	.241
Home runs	66
Runs batted in	212
NPB statistics
Batting average	.281
Home runs	34
Runs batted in	97
KBO statistics
Batting average	.264
Home runs	103
Runs batted in	339
Teams
Los Angeles Dodgers (1995–1997) Arizona Diamondbacks (1998) Detroit Tigers (1999–2000) Baltimore Orioles (2000) Cleveland Indians (2001) New York Yankees (2002) Cleveland Indians (2002–2003) New York Yankees (2003) New York Mets (2004) Baltimore Orioles (2004) Orix Buffaloes (2005–2006) Lotte Giants (2008–2010) Hanwha Eagles (2011)
Baseball Hall of Fame
Induction	2025
Medals Men's baseball Representing Mexico Pan American Games Bronze 2007 Rio de Janeiro Team

Gustavo Karim García Aguayo (born October 29, 1975) is a former professional baseball player from Mexico. He was a right fielder and is now a manager for the Tigres de Quintana Roo team.

Karim García played in many different baseball leagues around the world. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States, Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) in Japan, and the KBO League in South Korea. He was known for batting and throwing with his left hand.

Karim García's Baseball Journey

Starting with the Dodgers

Karim García was born in Ciudad Obregón, Mexico. He started his professional baseball journey very young. In 1992, when he was just 16, he signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

He played well in the minor leagues. In 1995, he hit .319 with 20 home runs. This helped him become the youngest player in Major League Baseball that September. He played for the Dodgers in 1996 and 1997 too.

Playing for the Diamondbacks

In 1997, the Arizona Diamondbacks chose Karim García in a special draft. He became the starting right fielder for their very first game. He even hit the second home run in the team's history!

Time with the Tigers and Orioles

After one season, García moved to the Detroit Tigers. In 1999, he hit a home run over the roof of Tiger Stadium, which was a rare feat. He later joined the Baltimore Orioles in 2000.

Joining the Cleveland Indians

In 2001, García signed with the Cleveland Indians. He had a great year in the minor leagues, hitting 31 home runs. When he joined the Indians later that year, he batted .311 with five home runs in a short time.

In 2002, he had an impressive season with the Indians. He hit 16 home runs and had 52 runs batted in (RBI), with a .299 batting average.

Memorable Moments with the Yankees

Karim García joined the New York Yankees in 2003. He played well, batting .305 in 52 games. He also showed good defense in the outfield.

He is often remembered for two events during the 2003 American League Championship Series. In one game, a pitcher threw a ball behind his head, causing a big argument between the teams. Later in the same game, García jumped into the bullpen to help a teammate during another incident.

Adventures in Japan and Korea

After playing in MLB, Karim García went to play baseball in other countries.

Playing in Japan

From 2005 to 2006, he played for the Orix Buffaloes in Japan. He hit 44 home runs and had 97 RBI during his time there. He even hit three home runs in two games in a row, which was a unique achievement in Japanese baseball.

Playing in Korea

In 2008, García signed with the Lotte Giants in South Korea. He quickly became a fan favorite. He hit 30 home runs and led the league with 111 RBI in his first season. He won a Golden Glove Award as an outfielder that year. He stayed with the Giants until 2010, hitting at least 26 home runs each season. In 2011, he also played for the Hanwha Eagles in South Korea.

Playing in Mexico

Karim García also played several seasons in the Mexican League. He played for the Sultanes de Monterrey in 2007, 2011, and 2012. In 2007, he helped his team win a national championship. He also played for the Naranjeros de Hermosillo in 2012.

Over his ten-year career in Major League Baseball, Karim García played 488 games. He had a .241 batting average, hit 66 home runs, and had 212 RBI.

Representing Mexico

Karim García proudly represented his home country, Mexico, in international baseball tournaments. He played as an outfielder for the Mexico national baseball team in the World Baseball Classic in 2006, 2009, and 2013. He also won a bronze medal with the Mexican team at the 2007 Pan American Games.

Becoming a Manager

After his playing career, Karim García became a baseball manager. As of July 2025, he is the manager for the Tigres de Quintana Roo team in the Mexican League.

See also

In Spanish: Karim García para niños