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Matthew Scott Garza (born November 26, 1983 in Selma, California) is a Mexican-American right-handed starting pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays. Garza pitched for the 2008 Tampa Bay Rays team that clinched its first World Series berth in franchise history after years of failure. Garza was named the 2008 ALCS MVP for his efforts in the series. On July 26, 2010 Garza threw a no-hitter against the Detroit Tigers. He gained attention for rising through the ranks of the Twins' minor league system, starting the season at Single-A Fort Myers and ending at the major league level, pitching with the Double-A New Britain Rock Cats and the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings in between. Garza was a combined 144 at the three minor league levels in 2006, with a 1.99 ERA and 154 strikeouts in 135 innings. Backed by those numbers, Garza earned the USA Today Minor League Player of the Year Award for 2006, the second consecutive year in which a Twin won the award (in 2005, Garza's teammate Francisco Liriano was the winner). Garza is one of a small number of players to advance through the minors and reach the major league level in a single season. On August 11, his major league debut, Garza allowed seven earned runs in 2 innings to the Toronto Blue Jays. Garza earned his first win on August 23 against the Baltimore Orioles, allowing just one unearned run in six innings. 2007 Entering 2007, Garza was rated as the top prospect in the Twins organization and the 21st-best prospect in Major League Baseball by Baseball America. On July 6, in a game against the Chicago White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field, Garza became the first Twins pitcher to bat in an American League game since Allan Anderson in 1989. Garza was put in the eight-spot when catcher Mike Redmond left the game after his head was cut by Jim Thome's bat on a backswing. On July 29, Garza recorded a career-high 11 strikeouts in six innings against the Cleveland Indians. 2010 Garza threw a no-hitter on July 26, 2010 against the Detroit Tigers, becoming the fifth pitcher that season to throw a no-hitter. Garza threw 80 strikes out of the 120 pitches he threw. Scouting Garza throws a 2-seam fastball that varies from 9094 mph, as well as a 4-seam fastball that varies from 9396 mph that can, on occasion, reach 98. As someone who has had to deal with teen pregnancy, Garza was invited to sit on a panel for The Candie's Foundation in New York City about combating teen pregnancy with Hayden Panettiere and Bristol Palin on May 6, 2009. 22
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