Detroit — It became very evident very fast Thursday that there was a lot more to Ryan Garko than just a former Indians’ first baseman who would occasionally torment Tigers’ pitching from 2006 to 2009, posting an .843 OPS against them with six homers (two off Justin Verlander).
“Funny, my biggest memories are of Verlander striking me out all the time,” Garko said, laughing “And Joel Zumaya throwing 104 mph.”
But when Garko, 40, started listing the people he’s worked for since he stopped playing, the people who’ve hired him, influenced and mentored him, the people who ultimately helped steer him to where he was on Thursday, it became clear why general manager Al Avila hired him to be the club’s vice president of player development.