Reynaldo Lopez

Position: RHP
Born: 1/4/1994
Height: 6'0
Weight: 185
B/T: R/R
Acquired: Signed as an international free agent (Dominican Republic) on June 21, 2012 (WSH).

Most Recent Stats at Time of Debut
CURRENT SEASON STATS: 4-5 with a 3.19 ERA in 16 starts between Harrisburg (Double-A) and Syracuse (Triple-A), striking out 109 in 87.1 IP and walking 31 while allowing 78 hits and limiting opposing hitters to a .234 BAA.

Info & MLB Debut Date
Contract purchased from Syracuse July 19 when LHP Sammy Solis was placed on the 15-day DL.
MLB Debut Date: 7/19/2016

Debut Details
July 19, against the Dodgers, where as the starting pitcher he took the loss in an 8-4 game, allowing six runs, all earned, on 10 hits over 4.2 IP, walking one and striking out nine. He gave up a solo homer to the first batter he faced, Chase Utley, on his third pitch, a 97-mph fastball to start a three-run inning. That was followed by a single by Howie Kendrick and a double by Justin Turner that set up a two-run single from Joc Pederson. After allowing a fourth run in the second inning, he settled down and struck out five of the six batters he faced in the third and fourth, striking out the side all swinging in the third – Yasmani Grandal (who had also fanned looking in the first), Pederson and Yasiel Puig, and struck out Scott Kazmir and Utley looking in the fourth. Lopez allowed his final two runs in the fifth on RBI singles from Adrian Gonzalez and Puig. He threw 105 pitches, 65 for strikes, and his fastball clocked as high as 98 mph.

Player Notes
Just the second player to debut for the Nationals this season, joining fellow uber-prospect Lucas Giolito, Lopez joined the rotation to replaced injured starter Joe Ross. With the Nats in good position for the postseason, they have been sparing in their use of newcomers but have chosen players who show fans flashes of great futures as well as the ability to contribute right now. Lopez boasts one of the deadliest fastballs in the system, a lively mid-90s pitch that occasionally touches three digits, as well as a power curveball. Coming to the big leagues after just two Triple-A starts, he has moved quickly. In 2015, he spent the summer not far from home base with the Potomac Nationals (High A), a few miles down I-95, going 6-7 with a 4.09 ERA in 19 starts, including the lone complete game of his pro career, fanning 94 in 99 innings and walking 28 while allowing 93 hits. He really put himself firmly on the map in his first stateside outing in 2014 when, between Auburn (Short-Season) and Hagerstown (Class A), he combined to go 7-3 with a 1.08 ERA in 16 starts, striking out 70 in 83.1 IP and walking 26 while allowing just 42 hits, limiting hitters to a .149 BAA. Lopez was optioned back to Syracuse the day after his debut to make room for fellow debutante, pitcher Koda Glover (see above).

2080 Notes
Lopez checked in at No. 46 on 2080 Baseball’s Preseason Top 125 Prospect Ranking List where C.J. Wittmann had this to say about him: “Lopez features one of the better fastballs in all of the minors, touching triple digits with explosive life. It’s paired with a curveball that can flash plus, and changeup that plays average. Lopez will flash plus command on days he stays within his delivery, but other days can struggle to find the zone. Honing his delivery and command is the focus of his 2016 season.” You can read more about Lopez here in Wittmann’s Prospect Spotlight about him from mid-May.