Jack López

American baseball player (born 1992)

Baseball player
Jack López
López with the Omaha Storm Chasers in 2018
Los Angeles Angels
Infielder
Born: (1992-12-16) December 16, 1992 (age 31)
Río Piedras, Puerto Rico
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
September 5, 2021, for the Boston Red Sox
MLB statistics
(through 2021 season)
Batting average.154
Home runs0
Runs batted in0
Teams
  • Boston Red Sox (2021)
Medals
Men's baseball
Representing  United States
Olympic Games
Silver medal – second place 2020 Tokyo Team

Jack Henry López (born December 16, 1992) is a Puerto Rican professional baseball infielder in the Los Angeles Angels organization. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Boston Red Sox. Listed at 5 feet 10 inches (1.78 m) and 160 pounds (73 kg), he bats and throws right-handed.

Baseball career

Amateur career

López graduated from Deltona High School in Deltona, Florida.[1] He had a .462 batting average during his senior season and was named to the All-Central Florida baseball team.[2] Although he was offered a full scholarship to play college baseball with the Miami Hurricanes,[1] the Kansas City Royals selected López in the 16th round of the 2011 MLB draft, and he signed with the Royals for a $750,000 bonus.[3]

Kansas City Royals

López began his professional career in 2012, splitting the season between the Rookie-level Idaho Falls Chukars and the Single-A Kane County Cougars.[4] The following year, López was promoted to the High-A Wilmington Blue Rocks, where he batted .230/.297/.301 with 4 home runs and 45 RBI. He returned to Wilmington in 2014 and 2015, batting .215 and .238, respectively. In 2016, López advanced further through the Royals' farm system, reaching Double-A with the Northwest Arkansas Naturals. For the 2017 season, López began the season in Double-A, and spent the year there aside from a short stint with the Triple-A Omaha Storm Chasers of the Pacific Coast League. In 2018, López spent the year in Omaha, where he slashed .251/.279/.352 with 34 runs batted in (RBI) and a career-high 8 home runs.[4] He elected free agency following the season on November 2, 2018.[5]

Atlanta Braves

On March 9, 2019, López signed a minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves organization. He appeared in 96 games for the Triple-A Gwinnett Stripers of the International League in 2019, batting .273 with 12 home runs and 57 RBIs.[4] López did not play in a game in 2020, as the minor-league season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[6] He elected free agency on November 2, 2020.

Boston Red Sox

On January 16, 2021, López signed a minor league contract with the Boston Red Sox organization. He began the season with the Double-A Portland Sea Dogs, and was promoted to the Triple-A Worcester Red Sox.[7] López was on Boston's taxi squad in late August, traveling with the major-league team as a potential roster replacement.[8] He was added to Boston's active roster on September 1,[9] and made his MLB debut that evening against the Tampa Bay Rays.[10] He was returned to Worcester on September 6, recalled to Boston on September 11,[9] and returned to Worcester on September 21.[11] López played in seven games for Boston, batting .154 (2-for-13).[12] In the minor leagues, he played five games for Portland, batting 8-for-19 (.421), and 68 games for Worcester, where he had a .274 average.[4] López became a free agent following the 2021 season.

Detroit Tigers

On February 9, 2022, López signed a minor league contract with the Detroit Tigers.[13] López played in 95 games for the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens, batting .167/.205/.287 with 6 home runs, 34 RBI, and 11 stolen bases. He elected free agency following the season on November 10.[14]

Los Angeles Angels

On April 11, 2023, López signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Angels organization.[15] In 93 games for the Triple–A Salt Lake Bees, he batted .277/.333/.476 with 13 home runs and 74 RBI. López elected free agency following the season on November 6.[16]

López re-signed with the Angels on a minor league contract on December 19, 2023.[17]

International career

López has played in the Puerto Rican Winter League during the minor-league offseason, each year since the 2013–14 season.[4] He has played for several teams in the league, including three seasons with Cangrejeros de Santurce.[4]

López played for Puerto Rico in the Caribbean Series of 2018–19, 2019–20, and 2020–21, batting over .300 in each series.[4]

On July 2, 2021, López was named to the United States national baseball team for the 2020 Summer Olympics.[18][19] He was granted a transfer of sports citizenship by the Puerto Rico Baseball Federation.[20] The team went on to win silver, falling to Japan in the gold-medal game.[21]

Personal life

López's father, Juan López,[1] was a minor-league catcher who later served as bullpen coach for three different National League teams during 14 seasons between 1999 and 2013.[22][23] López's uncle Onix Concepción was a shortstop for the Kansas City Royals,[24] including their 1985 World Series team; he also played one game with the Pittsburgh Pirates.[25]

References

  1. ^ a b c Lewis, Michael (June 5, 2011). "Deltona's Jack Lopez has a bright future". The Daytona Beach News-Journal. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  2. ^ "All-Central Florida Baseball Team". Orlando Sentinel. June 7, 2011. p. C5. Retrieved July 2, 2021 – via newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Varsity Roll Call". Orlando Sentinel. August 17, 2011. p. C7. Retrieved July 2, 2021 – via newspapers.com.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g "Jack López Minor & Winter Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved November 6, 2021.
  5. ^ "Minor League Free Agents 2018". baseballamerica.com. Retrieved May 7, 2024.
  6. ^ "2020 Minor League Season Canceled".
  7. ^ "Worcester Red Sox Jack Lopez utility man versatility". Telegram.com. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  8. ^ McWilliams, Julian (August 30, 2021). "Red Sox COVID-19 outbreak grows to five players, including Martín Pérez, Matt Barnes". The Boston Globe. Retrieved August 31, 2021 – via MSN.com.
  9. ^ a b "Red Sox Roster & Staff – Transactions". MLB.com. Boston Red Sox. September 2021. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
  10. ^ "Red Sox vs. Rays - Box Score". ESPN.com. September 1, 2021. Retrieved September 1, 2021.
  11. ^ Campbell, Brendan (September 21, 2021). "Red Sox activate Christian Arroyo from COVID-19 related injured list, return Jack López to Triple-A Worcester". bloggingtheredsox.com. Retrieved September 25, 2021.
  12. ^ "Jack Lopez Stats". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved November 6, 2021.
  13. ^ Adams, Steve (February 9, 2022). "Tigers, Jack Lopez Agree To Minor League Deal". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
  14. ^ "2022-23 Minor League Free Agents For All 30 MLB Teams". baseballamerica.com. Retrieved May 7, 2024.
  15. ^ "Minor League Transactions: April 5-20, 2023". baseballamerica.com. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
  16. ^ "2023 MiLB Free Agents". baseballamerica.com. Retrieved May 7, 2024.
  17. ^ "MiLB Transactions (December 19, 2023)". MiLB.com. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
  18. ^ "USA Baseball announces Olympics roster". MLB.com. July 2, 2021. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  19. ^ Boyle, Chris (July 2, 2021). "Jack López, Deltona grad in Red Sox organization, selected to USA Baseball squad for Tokyo Olympics". The Daytona Beach News-Journal. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  20. ^ Benbow, Julian (July 20, 2021). "The thought of playing in the Olympics never crossed Jack López's mind. Then he got a call from Alex Cora". The Boston Globe. Retrieved August 8, 2021 – via MSN.com.
  21. ^ "Baseball/Softball - United States vs Japan - Gold Medal Game Results". olympics.com. August 7, 2021. Archived from the original on August 16, 2021. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
  22. ^ "Juan Lopez Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 15, 2014.
  23. ^ "Juan Lopez". Retrosheet. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  24. ^ Kuzydym, Stephanie (May 23, 2011). "Cincinnati coach helps son Jack Lopez shine at Deltona". Orlando Sentinel. p. C1. Retrieved July 6, 2021 – via newspapers.com.
  25. ^ "Onix Concepcion". Retrosheet. Retrieved July 6, 2021.

Further reading

  • Benbow, Julian (July 20, 2021). "The thought of playing in the Olympics never crossed Jack López's mind. Then he got a call from Alex Cora". The Boston Globe. Retrieved July 21, 2021.

External links

  • Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors), or Retrosheet
  • Player profile at SoxProspects.com
  • v
  • t
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United States roster – 2020 Summer Olympics silver medalists