 Garko signed with the Long Island Ducks of the independent Atlantic League of Professional Baseball in March 2012. He started well, leading 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.
