DONE DEAL: A dynamic talent from the San Francisco Giants has signed a contract with the Blue Jays worth $86.7 million.
On Tuesday, the San Francisco Giants acquired Otto Lopez, one of the game’s most versatile prospects, from the Toronto Blue Jays for financial considerations. Lopez was designated for assignment by Toronto earlier this week and was eligible to be acquired off waivers. To make room on the 40-man roster for Lopez, the Giants designated outfielder TJ Hopkins for assignment. Hopkins had been bought in a similar transaction in December.Lopez has little big-league experience, having had 11 combined plate appearances in different stints in 2021 and 2022. He is having fun.In that extremely tiny sample size, he had a triple-slash of 600/.636/.600, no extra-base hits, one walk, and two strikeouts. However, Lopez has exhausted his minor-league options this season and will now have the opportunity to earn a position on the Giants’ Opening Day roster as a super utility player for manager Bob Melvin.
Lopez has also appeared on the big stage, representing Canada at the 2023 World Baseball Classic. Lopez appeared in all four of the team’s games, hitting.294/.333/.588, with a triple, home run, walk, and strikeout in 17 plate appearances.
Lopez was recruited by the Blue Jays from the Dominican Republic in 2016, and he made his debut with the organization’s stateside affiliate in 2017. Lopez immediately demonstrated an above-average hitting ability and made his way to the major leagues by 2021. Despite being younger than most of his opponents, Lopez has consistently maintained hitting averages above.300 in the lower leagues.
Lopez also has good speed, but he has struggled to become a reliable base stealer. Nonetheless, his speed has helped him become a highly adaptable defender. Lopez has played in at least ten games at shortstop, second base, centre field and left field in the last year. Second base, his original position, is his finest defensively, and the only one where he Position is his best defensive option and the only one where he is expected to rate above-average, but the fact that he can play every outfield position and is a passable shortstop makes it much easier to envision him staying on the team.
The only thing Lopez lacks is power. He has never produced extra-base hits, particularly home runs, at even league-average levels. Instead, his offensive effectiveness will depend on his ability to consistently reach base. He has demonstrated both the contact skills and the patience to do so.
Lopez had the worst season of his career in 2023. Lopez’s season was cut short by a severe oblique strain, which may have resulted from trying to push through ailments.258/.313/.343 triple-slash in Triple-A. It was undoubtedly his poorest offensive season, despite two previous stays at the minor leagues’ highest level
Lopez will now compete with other prospects for Marco Luciano’s backup shortstop position, including Brett Wisely and Tyler Fitzgerald. The Giants
. The Giants have spent the winter trying to shore up their shortstop depth, and Lopez may be the new front-runner for the job now that both Wisely and Fitzgerald have minor-league options.Hopkins is coming off his most productive minor league season to date. In 94 games with the Reds’ Triple-A club, he hit.308/.411/.514 with 18 doubles, 16 home runs, 55 walks, and 94 strikeouts in 393 plate appearances. That excellent overall performance helped him earn his first big-league call-up.
However, Hopkins was unable to maintain his excellent production against major league pitching. Hopkins made only 44 plate appearances in 25 games with the Reds, recording seven hits (all singles), 17 strikeouts, and two walks. If he goes unclaimed on waivers, the San Francisco Giants may keep him in the organisation and give him a chance to fight for a Triple-A place.