A Journey in Patience: LA Angels Catcher Francisco Arcia Story

Imagine toiling away at your craft for 12 years and it seems like your going nowhere. For LA Angels catcher Francisco Arcia this has been his reality since he was signed by the Yankees in 2007.

When LA Angels catcher Francisco Arcia signed his first professional contract he probably never dreamed that it would take him 12 years before he would get a chance to play in a major league game, but that is exactly what happened to the now 28 year old catcher.from Venezuela.

When Arcia was called up by the Angels on August 1st after they had traded Martin Maldonado to Houston, he was excited and ready to show what he could do.  Boy did he ever show it.  In Arcia’s first major league game on Thursday, July 26th he went two for four hitting his first major league home run and driving in four runs to help the Angels gain a 12-8 victory over the White Sox.

Two days later Arcia started against the Seattle Mariners and this tie the ‘rookie’ catcher hit another home run plus two doubles and drove in six runs.  His two homers and 10 RBIs in his first two major league games set a Major League Baseball record for RBIs in the first two games of a career.  Not too shabby for a career minor leaguer.

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Since then Arcia has cooled off some, but he has become a solid backstop for the Angels.  In 81 at-bats over 30 games Arcia has hit five homers with 19 runs driven in and is batting .220.  Not spectacular numbers, but solid for sure.  Will Arcia be a member of the Angels next year is anyone’s guess, but for now he is enjoying it.

“It was amazing, a dream come true (being called up to the majors),” Arcia said in an interview earlier this month with Halo Hangout. “Finally all the hard work I have done in the minor leagues has paid off.”

With all those years in the minors most people would have given up the dream of ever being called up, but not Arcia who said it motivated him to work even harder.

“I just kept working harder every day and I never put my head.  I just kept battling knowing that I was preparing for that one day when I would get my chance.”

Now that has Arcia is in the majorshe does not want to be a flash in the pan so he has continued to work hard every day knowing that the next day is not a given.

“I play every game as hard and as well as I can. If they keep on giving me the opportunity I’m going to take advantage of it and play every day like it is my last game,” Arcia said. “If you are working hard to reach a goal you must be strong mentally and work hard every day. Don’t give up on your dream it can still happen.”

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Angels manager Mike Scioscia is a former catcher and has always like catcher who have a tremendous work ethic.  So far Scioscia has like what he has seen from Arcia.

“A lot of guys are just looking for that opportunity and Francisco has taken advantage of his and used his experiences in the minors to help him play well here in the majors,” Scioscia said. “He is understanding the importance of the pitcher-catcher relationship and he has embraced it and has done a good job defensively and at the plate as well.”

Last Wednesday night Arcia had another first hitting two home runs in a game against the Texas Rangers as well as smacking a two-run double going three-for-four with four RBIs as well as throwing out a would-be base stealer in the fourth inning.  Yes, Angel fans Francisco Arcia has arrived and seems poised to stay awhile.

Good luck Francisco!!! Here’s hoping you will continue to have success in the majors you have definitely earned it.