López signed with the Washington Nationals as an international free agent in June 2012. His signing bonus of just $17,000 was relatively tiny compared to most other contemporaneous Latin American prospects that would reach his same level of success in the minor leagues.[1] The lower signing bonus may have been because Lopez took several years off of baseball to finish his high school degree, and signed at age 18.
On July 17, 2016, Nationals manager Dusty Baker announced López would be called up to make his major league debut with a start on July 19, 2016, against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C.[7] During the game, he gave up a lead-off home run to Chase Utley, allowed three runs in the first inning, and gave up hits to seven of the first 11 batters he faced.[8] After that, he improved considerably, retiring eight batters in a row at one point, striking out six of them.[8] After he allowed three batters to reach base and gave up two more runs in the fifth inning, he was relieved.[8] He had pitched 4+2⁄3 innings, throwing 105 pitches (65 for strikes), giving up six runs (all earned) on 10 hits (including one home run), and walking one but striking out nine.[9][10] The Nationals lost the game 8–4, and he was the game's losing pitcher.[9][10] However, he was the first player from the Dominican Republic signed and developed by the Nationals to start a game for Washington[8] – which the Nationals considered a major step forward for their organization[8] – and his nine strikeouts was the second-highest strike-out total for a Nationals pitcher during a major league debut,[8] exceeded only by Stephen Strasburg′s 14 strikeouts on June 8, 2010.[11] López left the field to a standing ovation by Nationals fans.[12] The Nationals sent López back to Syracuse on July 20, 2016, to make room on their roster for relief pitcher Koda Glover, who made his major league debut the evening after Lopez's debut.[13] He was recalled and optioned multiple times after his debut. In 19 starts between Harrisburg and Syracuse he compiled a 5–7 record and 3.21 ERA, and in 11 games (six starts) for the Nationals, he was 5–3 with a 4.91 ERA.
López began 2017 with the Charlotte Knights before being called up on August 11. He was placed on the disabled list on August 19 and activated September 1. In 22 starts for Charlotte he pitched to a 6–7 record and 3.79 ERA, and in eight starts for the White Sox he was 3–3 with a 4.72 ERA.[15] López began 2018 with Chicago in the starting rotation. He finished the season with a record of 7–10 in 32 starts.
In 2019, he was 10–15 with a 5.38 ERA, and gave up the longest home run of the season in the major leagues, a 505-foot homer.[16] He allowed the lowest ground ball percentage of all major league pitchers (35.0%).[17] With the 2020 Chicago White Sox, López appeared in eight games, compiling a 1–3 record with 6.49 ERA and 24 strikeouts in 26+1⁄3 innings pitched.[18]
López did not make the White Sox' Opening Day roster for the 2021 season.[19] He began the year with Charlotte. He was called up on July 16 where he made his season debut coming out of the bullpen going 2 innings, gave up 1 hit, and struck out 1. He made his first start in 2021 against the Minnesota Twins during game 2 of a doubleheader, going 3 innings, giving up 2 runs and 1 home run, and struck out 3 as the White Sox won 5-3. On August 11, López was promoted to the starting rotation due to an injury to Carlos Rodón. On August 28 against the Chicago Cubs, he was called in after a 6-run first inning to pitch, throwing five perfect innings.[20] Overall in 2021, Lopez appeared in 20 games while making 9 starts, with an ERA of 3.43 and a 4-3 record. He pitched in 57.2 innings and struck out 55 batters. In 2022, López came out of the bullpen and did very well. His average velocity for his fastball in 2022 was 97 miles per hour, and did hit 100 miles per hour in a few appearances.[21] López went 6–4 in 61 games while making 1 start, pitching to an ERA of 2.76 in 65.1 innings while striking out 63 batters.
Los Angeles Angels
On July 26, 2023, López and Lucas Giolito were traded to the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for minor league players Ky Bush and Edgar Quero.[22] He was placed on waivers on August 29, after posting a 2.77 ERA in 13 relief appearances.[23]
On November 20, 2023, López signed a three–year, $26 million contract with the Atlanta Braves.[25][26] On March 18, 2024, López was given the fifth rotation spot for the major league roster after Bryce Elder and Huascar Ynoa were cut from the spring training camp.[27] López was selected to his first All-Star Game roster as a reserve, alongside teammates Marcell Ozuna, Chris Sale and late add Max Fried.[28][29] López and the Braves agreed to a restructured contract in November 2024, which would pay López $8 million in 2025, $14 million in 2026, and guaranteed the team option for 2028 at $8 million.[30][31]
Pitching style
While at 6 feet tall, Lopez is not especially tall for a pitcher—some media stories highlighting Nationals pitching prospects before both pitchers' MLB debuts made note of the height disparity between Lopez and his Harrisburg teammate, 6-foot-6-inches Lucas Giolito[32][33]—he generates exceptional velocity on his fastball, which he can throw consistently above 95 mph and flash in the triple digits.[32][33][34] Lopez also throws a biting curveball[35] and a changeup.[6] He was mentioned as a possible future reliever when he was a prospect,[32][36] with Nationals General Manager Mike Rizzo describing him in 2016 as "a guy that can help in a starting role and in a bullpen role".[37]
Personal life
López is married to Jhilaris Bautista.[38] The couple's daughter was born in 2018.[39][40] After each completed inning he pitches, López points toward the sky, an action reflecting his Christian faith.[41]
