« Softball 2021

Rachel Garcia

School
UCLA
Position
Pitcher/First Base
Major
History

Classroom

Garcia has overcome considerable obstacles in her career and is on track to graduate this year. During her time on campus, she has earned Dean’s List honors multiple times.

Character

Throughout her career at UCLA, Garcia has overcome five surgeries and had to sit out her true freshman season. Spending hours in the training room to stay healthy, she has strong work ethic and integrity.

Community

Garcia enjoys spending time and volunteering with the youth. In her senior year of high school, she started Golden League Gives Back, where her former high school softball team pick a charity and teams bring donations. Logistics of the fundraiser have had to take a step back during the COVID-19 pandemic, but she plans to develop a bigger operation when available to do so.

During Thanksgiving season, Garcia has handed out turkeys to families in need. She has also visited her middle school a few times, addressing the student body on what it takes to be a collegiate athletic and discussing grades, training, and work ethic.

Competition

Garcia’s career at UCLA has been filled with many awards, none higher than being named to the United States Softball Olympic Team for the Tokyo Games. She has earned four gold medals during her career with USA Softball.

In 2019, Garcia was named USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year for the second season in a row, helping lead the Bruins to a National Championship. She earned both Pac-12 Player and Pitcher of the Year, NFCA National Pitcher of the Year, ESPNW Player of the Year, and was a first team NFCA and Softball America All-American. Garcia was also named the Collegiate Woman Athlete of The Year (Honda Cup) and was nominated for the James E. Sullivan Award and for an ESPY Award as Best College Athlete.

In 2018, Garcia was named USA Softball, NFCA, ESPNW and Pac-12 Player of the Year, also earning the Honda Sport Award.

For her career, she is 81-14 with a 1.44 ERA and 813 strikeouts in 612 2/3 innings. In the batters box, Garcia holds a .336 batting average, 30 home runs, and 140 runs batted in.