2. Reynaldo Lopez, RHP
Birthdate: 1/4/94 (22 years old)
Level(s) Played in 2016: AA, AAA, MLB
Stats in 2016: 109 1/3 IP, 3.21 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 7.64 BB%, 27.51 K% (minor league stats only)
While teammate Giolito seemed to take a step back at the same levels, Lopez took major leaps forward, passing up Giolito in the eyes of many I talked to around the game.
Lopez was originally a low-bonus signee out of the Dominican in 2012 who didn’t really have a lot expected of him, but he showed quickly that his velocity and true “stuff” was much better than advertised, even though he never really grew all that much more.
one (scout) even stated that if he was building any trade package for a major piece…with the Nationals, he would start with Lopez
While others can touch 100, Lopez routinely surpasses it and still maintains his velocity deep into games along with solid late arm side run on his fastball.
His curve is his best off speed pitch, and it is a high velocity, hard snap curve that often looks like a slider due to the sharpness of its break, but he can also take a tick off and throw a more loopy curve once or twice a game to really make a hitter look silly.
In 2016, Lopez took major steps forward in his delivery and his feel for his change up, which allowed him to drastically improve his control and his ability to project as a starter.
I talked with multiple scouts who believed that the best pitcher in the Nationals system before their trade for Adam Eaton was Lopez, not Giolito, and one even stated that if he was building any trade package for a major piece (when the Nationals were rumored to be after Chris Sale, Andrew McCutchen, Chris Archer, and others) with the Nationals, he would start with Lopez.
That’s high praise for a guy who gets physical comparisons to Pedro Martinez in his stature, but does have the similar long arms and legs that Pedro had that allow him to extend to the plate better than an average 6′ tall pitcher.
Next: #1