the Triple-A Portland Beavers on May 21. However, with Oklahoma City in 2010, Garko batted only .235 with twelve home runs. He became a free agent at the end of the season. Samsung Lions On December 10, Garko signed a one-year deal with the Samsung Lions of the Korea Baseball Organization. Due to injury, he was released on July 12. Later career Garko signed with the Long Island Ducks of the independent Atlantic League of Professional Baseball in March 2012. He led the league in OPS and placing among the league leaders in batting average before getting signed to a minor league contract by the Tampa Bay Rays on May 14. Garko spent the rest of the season playing for the Double-A Montgomery Biscuits of the Southern League, batting .297 with 68 hits, eight home runs, and 40 RBI in 61 games. On November 3, he became a free agent. On January 30, 2013, Garko signed a minor league contract with the Colorado Rockies. He was released before the season on March 23. Coaching career After his playing career ended, he joined the coaching staff at Stanford University, a position he held through the 2014 season. Garko was named as the manager of the Double-A Tulsa Drillers of the Texas League, a Los Angeles Dodgers affiliate for the 2016 season. On July 23, 2017, Garko resigned from the Drillers to take on a new job as head baseball coach at University of the Pacific. On January 8, 2020, Garko stepped down as the head coach at Pacific to join the Los Angeles Angels coaching staff. Garko spent two seasons with the Angels, working as a coaching assistant and instant replay coordinator. Front office career In September 2021 it was announced that the Detroit Tigers had hired Garko as their new Vice President of Player Development, replacing Dave Littlefield. Head coaching record Personal Garko resides in Scottsdale, Arizona, with his spouse Christie, whom he met in 2004. They were on their honeymoon when Garko found out that the Giants had made him a free agent after the 2009 season. He is a fan of the Los Angeles Lakers and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. References External links Career statistics and player information from Korea Baseball Organization 1981 births Living people Cleveland Indians players San Francisco Giants players Texas Rangers players Baseball players from Pennsylvania Major League Baseball first basemen Stanford Cardinal