The White Sox like what they have in Reynaldo Lopez and are ready to see how his talent translates to the majors.
Lopez arrived at Guaranteed Rate Field on Thursday afternoon, a day ahead of his White Sox debut. Lopez will pitch for the White Sox in the opener of a three-game set against the Kansas City Royals. The No. 59 prospect in baseball spent Thursday assimilating himself to the clubhouse, playing catch and soaking up an atmosphere that has been energized by his promotion. Similar to last month?s call up of Yoan Moncada, Lopez?s first game has excited both the team?s fans and its members.
?Everybody has kind of been anticipating his arrival as we wait for a lot of the other guys who are going to be developing over the course of the next couple of years to get here,? manager Rick Renteria said. ?Certainly, we?re all looking forward to getting him out there on the hill and see how he?s doing.?
The White Sox got a pretty good look at Lopez this spring after he came over in a December trade that sent Adam Eaton to the Washington Nationals. Lopez made five starts and posted a 3.72 ERA over 19 1/3 innings, striking out 14 and walking five. The right-hander made a strong impression on Don Cooper with his three-pitch mix.
?You could tell right away he had good stuff, he had three pitches, the fastball curveball and changeup,? Cooper said. ?I enjoyed the conversations we had. I remember going to the film room with him looking at stuff. And now his time has come. And I?m looking forward to tomorrow.?
While the two talked shop -- they moved Lopez on the rubber to improve his command -- Cooper said most of his intent this spring was to build a foundation with Lopez, who pitched 44 innings for Washington in 2016, Lucas Giolito, Michael Kopech and others. The veteran pitching coach hopes those conversations and film sessions help he and Lopez pick up where they let off in March.
?It was more establishing a relationship because I knew he was going to be here,? Cooper said. ?I wanted to feel comfortable with him and I want him to feel comfortable with me.
?I didn't want anything to slip through the cracks with my thoughts. I wanted him to know exactly where I was coming from and what I thought of him. Anytime he has questions or wants to know something, I want it to be clear for him.?
One thing is evident -
W- Lopez is as ready as he?s going to be. Lopez, 23, was named the organization?s minor league pitcher of the month after he posted a 2.10 ERA with 38 strikeouts in 30 innings in July. He said on Friday he?s believes he?s ready to be here and the White Sox think so, too.
?He's had to wait his time and now his time has come,? Cooper said.
Lopez arrived at Guaranteed Rate Field on Thursday afternoon, a day ahead of his White Sox debut. Lopez will pitch for the White Sox in the opener of a three-game set against the Kansas City Royals. The No. 59 prospect in baseball spent Thursday assimilating himself to the clubhouse, playing catch and soaking up an atmosphere that has been energized by his promotion. Similar to last month?s call up of Yoan Moncada, Lopez?s first game has excited both the team?s fans and its members.
?Everybody has kind of been anticipating his arrival as we wait for a lot of the other guys who are going to be developing over the course of the next couple of years to get here,? manager Rick Renteria said. ?Certainly, we?re all looking forward to getting him out there on the hill and see how he?s doing.?
The White Sox got a pretty good look at Lopez this spring after he came over in a December trade that sent Adam Eaton to the Washington Nationals. Lopez made five starts and posted a 3.72 ERA over 19 1/3 innings, striking out 14 and walking five. The right-hander made a strong impression on Don Cooper with his three-pitch mix.
?You could tell right away he had good stuff, he had three pitches, the fastball curveball and changeup,? Cooper said. ?I enjoyed the conversations we had. I remember going to the film room with him looking at stuff. And now his time has come. And I?m looking forward to tomorrow.?
While the two talked shop -- they moved Lopez on the rubber to improve his command -- Cooper said most of his intent this spring was to build a foundation with Lopez, who pitched 44 innings for Washington in 2016, Lucas Giolito, Michael Kopech and others. The veteran pitching coach hopes those conversations and film sessions help he and Lopez pick up where they let off in March.
?It was more establishing a relationship because I knew he was going to be here,? Cooper said. ?I wanted to feel comfortable with him and I want him to feel comfortable with me.
?I didn't want anything to slip through the cracks with my thoughts. I wanted him to know exactly where I was coming from and what I thought of him. Anytime he has questions or wants to know something, I want it to be clear for him.?
One thing is evident -
W- Lopez is as ready as he?s going to be. Lopez, 23, was named the organization?s minor league pitcher of the month after he posted a 2.10 ERA with 38 strikeouts in 30 innings in July. He said on Friday he?s believes he?s ready to be here and the White Sox think so, too.
?He's had to wait his time and now his time has come,? Cooper said.
