8 replies to this topic

[jscola85]

I think it's probably a bit early to consider him a "prospect", but Deiner Lopez has caught my eye down in the DSL

Age: 17
Born: May 30, 1994
Position: SS
Height: 6-0
Weight: 165
Bats: Switch
Throws: Right
How Acquired: International FA, August 2010

In a recent interview (link below) with Eddie Romero Jr, Deiner Lopez was singled out along with Cleuluis Rondon and Aneudis Peralta (talk about some great names down in the DSL!) as guys to watch out for as the season progresses:

Lopez is [a] shortstop who we’re moving around the field. He is also a switch-hitter with a lot of potential.

Link to Romero Interview

Through 168 PAs, Lopez is sporting a triple slash of .270/.425/.369 (.794 OPS), with 10 steals in 13 ABs. He has shown a little pop in his bat with 10 XBHs, but his 27/30 BB/K ratio sticks out to me - any middle infielder with some upside who shows that kind of plate discipline is worth watching in my opinion.

Edited by jscola85, 20 July 2011 - 08:54 AM.

[jscola85]

Through 212 PAs:

.263 / .424 / .371 (.796 OPS)

He also hit his first career home run last night. Lopez has primarily been playing 2B and LF, as it seems Cleuluis Rondon (another guy that Romero highlighted to watch) is getting as many games at SS as he can handle.

[Jed Zeppelin]

DSL games always feature a boatload of walks. That doesn't mean a certain guy doesn't have real plate discipline but it's hard to say with any certainty at this point.

[jscola85]

DSL games always feature a boatload of walks. That doesn't mean a certain guy doesn't have real plate discipline but it's hard to say with any certainty at this point.

Agreed. I just have my eye on Lopez because (i) there aren't too many young guys hitting or pitching well for the DSL team; (ii) Romero Jr said he's a guy the Sox are watching; and (iii) he's a switch hitter with a good frame who can play multiple places on the field.

Maybe he's just the next Keury de la Cruz, but a near .800 OPS for a kid who is 17 even in the DSL is somewhat intriguing to me.

Edited by jscola85, 01 August 2011 - 10:07 AM.

[jscola85]

Through 252 PAs - .255/.402/.349 with 16 SBs out of 22 attempts. Has now played games at 2B, SS and LF. Struggled for a little while but he's 4 for his last 12. Would love to see some power but the kid is 16 and apparently rail thin, so not surprising the power isn't there yet - not every prospect can hit for power like the X Man!

[jscola85]

Looks like Lopez tweaked something at the end of the year, as he missed the last week of the DSL schedule. End of season stats:

.250 /.393/.341 with 14 XBHs (1 HR), 17 steals in 23 tries and a 40/48 BB/K ratio in 260 PAs. Lopez made appearances at 2B, 3B, SS and LF, with 2B the most common position.

All in all, an intriguing start for the 17 year old Lopez. Hopefully he gets a shot in the GCL next summer.

[jscola85]

Through 44 PAs in the GCL, Lopez is hitting .244/.295/.293. 3/10 BB/K ratio, and 2/2 on stolen base attempts. After starting just 1/21 with 7 Ks, Lopez is 9 for his last 20, riding a 6-game hitting streak in which he has K'ed just 3 times.

Hopefully it's a sign he was just settling in. With fellow quasi-prospect Cleuluis Rondon playing SS, Lopez has played almost exclusively 2B.

[jscola85]

Lopez is now up to 94 PAs, hitting .264/.326/.333, good for a .660 OPS. 7/19 BB/K ratio and 3/4 on SB attempts. Throwing out his 1/21 start, he's hitting .333/.391/.424. And in July, he hit .328/.381/.414.

I don't think Lopez has true MLB contributor ability, but it's looking like he could be decent organizational depth in the middle of the infield. He's also still only 18 years old, so plenty left to grow and develop.

[jscola85]

I think Lopez is battling some sort of injury, as he missed all the games from August 6 through the 17th, and since then has played spotty amounts.

Through 123 PAs, he's at .265/.341/.327. .744 OPS over his last 10 games. Still nothing amazing but the GCL lacks much in the way of interesting hitters, so I'll keep tracking him.