Embattled former All-Star reliever Jorge López is coming off a season that saw some of the highest and lowest points of his career. The 31-year-old right-hander is coming off a late-season stint with the Chicago Cubs that saw him post some of his best career marks. But fallout over an earlier outburst following a failed relief appearance with the New York Mets turned public and player sentiment against him. This highly capable journeyman reliever hopes to make a fresh start in a new home next season.
Embattled Former All-Star Reliever Looking for A Fresh Start
Jorge Lopez Player Profile
Lopez was drafted out of high school in Puerto Rico by the Milwaukee Brewers with the 70th overall pick in the 2011 draft. He made his MLB debut as a starter in 2015 and appeared in only two games. His first full season came in 2019, with the Kansas City Royals going 4 and 9 in 18 starts. He also had 109 strikeouts in 123 2/3 innings and converted one save in two attempts.
After moving to a relief role, Lopez had his breakout season with the Baltimore Orioles in 2022. In 44 appearances, he went 4 and 6 with a 1.68 ERA and 54 strikeouts in 48 1/3 innings. He also converted 19 of 23 save chances in that stretch and was selected to the AL All-Star Team.
A Perfectionist Liked And Respected In The Clubhouse
Lopez is a versatile reliever with a five-pitch arsenal and a fastball that touches 96 mph. Baseball Savant ranks him in the 89th percentile in off-speed run value and 86th percentile in ground ball rate. He is known to put a lot of pressure on himself to perform at the highest level. In other words, he’s highly competitive.
His natural ability and drive for perfection accompany what those who spend time with him say is a kind-hearted spirit. In a May 30, 2024, article for Yahoo! Sports, Jake Mintz reported that members of the Baltimore Orioles “resoundingly adored” Lopez.
Lost in Translation: One Very Bad Day
The day that briefly threatened Lopez’ career came the day before in a relief appearance against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Pitching in the eighth inning with the Mets in a 7-3 hole, Lopez gave up a two-run home run to Shohei Ohtani that seemed to put the game out of reach.
From that point, Lopez started into a meltdown, where he saw him hurling expletives at third-base umpire Ramon De Jesus and his glove over the netting and into the seats behind the Mets’ dugout. It was a bad moment, but let’s face it wasn’t the first time a player or a coach has lost his mind in the moment.
To make matters worse, Lopez’ derogatory comments in broken English, directed chiefly at himself, were lost in translation. This caused a folder in the press that bled over into the next day. His agents failed to clear the air, and Lopez was sent packing.
A Good Pitcher With Some Personal Issues
Whether or not his reputation is forever tarnished by this incident remains to be seen. But it bears noting that Lopez has reportedly suffered from some mental strain in the past. He has even spent time on injured reserve while trying to sort out his frustrations in therapy.
Underlying this, to some extent, maybe the health concerns over his son, Mikael, who suffers from a rare inherited auto-inflammatory disease called Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF). The disease causes frequent fever and acute inflammation in the abdomen, joints, and lungs.
The thought that his kid is afflicted with a lifelong disorder that he inherited from him would be enough to cause any parent a great deal of stress.
A Player And A Man On The Rebound
After his release by the Mets on June 5, Lopez was signed by the Cubs on June 11. From there, he began to regain his 2022 form. In 24 games in a Cubs uniform, Lopez was 1 and 1 with a 2.03 ERA, four holds, and 31 strikeouts in 26 2/3 innings. He also converted two out of three save opportunities in that stretch.
Given his issues on and off the field, Lopez certainly offers a complexity of considerations. But his salary implications are extremely low (he projects to earn the league minimum this year), making him a steal for a team looking for a quality reliever. This embattled former All-Star is looking to make a fresh start in 2025.
Main Photo Credits: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
