Adolis Garcia is a celebrity in Arlington, Texas, and many know him by his nickname: El Bombi.
The slugger debuted in 2018 with the Cardinals but didn't break out until his rookie season in 2021 with the Rangers. He earned his first of two All-Star nominations, mashing 31 home runs and 90 RBIs.
He followed his rookie campaign with back-to-back 100-RBI seasons and a 2023 World Series win with the Rangers. The outfielder also won his first Gold Glove in 2023.
Garcia is back in the Home Run Derby for the second straight year after he fell short in the first round of the 2023 contest. El Bombi will go for his redemption, this time at his home park in Arlington.
The Sporting News breaks down the origin of Garcia's nickname and why it stuck with him throughout his MLB career.
MORE: Adolis Garcia timeline of teams
Why is Adolis Garcia nicknamed 'El Bombi'?
Garcia's El Bombi nickname stems from his childhood. The Texas slugger was born and raised in Cuba.
One of Garcia's childhood friends came up with the nickname because he believed Garcia's head looked like a light bulb, which translates to "bombillo" in Spanish.
"Ah, so the nickname comes from my friend, my neighborhood friend," Garcia said. "He called me that because my head is shaped like a light bulb."
"Light bulb" (or "the light bulb") isn't fitting for a nickname, however, so it's much smoother when cut short and kept in Spanish.
El Bombi meaning
"El Bombi" is a shorter version of el bombillo, which translates to "the light bulb." It originates from Garcia's childhood friend who believed the Texas slugger's head was shaped like a light bulb.
The nickname has largely been pinned to Garcia's power at the plate, since "bombi" is so similar to "bomb" in both English and Spanish. "Bomb" in Spanish is "bomba."
Despite the similarity, Garcia confirmed his nickname has nothing to do with hitting home runs.
