PEORIA, Ariz. —
Anyone questioning the Aztecs basketball fan credentials of Padres infielder Greg Garcia apparently did not glance up at the Viejas Arena video board, circa 1998.
On any given night, the El Cajon kid losing his ever-lovin’ marbles to lure the attention of cameras had no clue he would end up playing meaningful big-league innings for his hometown baseball team.
Garcia would bounce over to the student section, a yawning expanse fit for tumbleweeds, and cut loose.
“Oh, yeah,” said Garcia, 30, when asked if he made it onto the big screen. “Because there were maybe 1,000 people there.