Chicago White Sox: Reynaldo Lopez off to brilliant start
By Phil Akre
Chicago White Sox starter Reynaldo has opened 2018 with stellar numbers. As a former top prospect, Lopez’s stuff is certainly electric, but is his hot start legit?
When the Chicago White Sox traded Adam Eaton to the Washington Nationals, the move was widely viewed as a heist.
The Nationals gave up the then-top prospect in the game, Lucas Giolito, a first-round pick in Dane Dunning, and Reynaldo Lopez, himself one of the game’s top pitching prospects.To this point, the trio has shown flashes at the major league level, but none have truly separated themselves
Reynaldo Lopez, though, could be the first one to really show growth, as his 2018 is off to a fantastic start. In thirteen innings through two starts, Lopez has allowed just one earned run, while striking out eleven.
Additionally, he’s scattered just four hits through his two starts. It’s a huge leap from his last three starts in 2017, where he allowed 11 runs through his final sixteen innings. Reynaldo Lopez is one of the top pitching prospects in the game for a reason, too. At 24 year’s old, Reynaldo Lopez has a strong arm that consistently hits the high 90’s.
Much like emerging ace Luis Severino, Reynaldo Lopez’s 6-foot frame is guided by its ability to throw hard that averages 95.4 MPH. However, Reynaldo Lopez isn’t your typical ‘strikeout’ pitcher, as his numbers (41 K’s in his last 60.2 innings) don’t blow you away.
Reynaldo Lopez has focused on attacking the low outside corners of the strike zone, where eight of his 11 strikeouts have come from.
Most importantly, Reynaldo Lopez’s slider has looked great through his two starts. The pitch has become a weapon for the youngster despite initially being an experiment in spring training.
In speaking to Max Gelman of MLB.com, Reynaldo Lopez commented on the use of his new pitch.
"“I’ve been happy with the way that pitch is working out for me because that’s kind of a new pitch for me,” Lopez said through translator Billy Russo. “I’ve been able to use it in an effective way.”"
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Walks aren’t the biggest problem, though. They’re something that Chicago White Sox catcher Welington Castillo believes he’ll work through.
"“He’s always had the stuff, but now it’s like he’s starting to grow and know himself,” Castillo said. “That’s a guy who is really quiet, but he knows what he’s capable of doing.”"
Reynaldo Lopez’s hot start is indeed a welcoming sight for a franchise that is looking to rebuild quickly. With a trio of Giolito, Lopez and Michael Kopech at the top, you’ve got quite an imposing staff.