Blue Jays: 2020 Top Prospect, #25 Otto Lopez

Counting down from 30, the Jays Journal has your top 30 Blue Jays prospects this year, including who we’ve ranked at #25, Otto Lopez.

Name: Otto Lopez
Position: SS/2B/LF                       Age: 21
Height: 5’10”                                  Weight: 160 lbs
Throws: Right                                 Bats: Right
Acquired: International Free Agent Signing, July 2016
2019 Organization Level: Single-A – Lansing Lugnuts

Background
The Blue Jays courted Otto Lopez as a 17-year old free agent in 2016, which was the same summer Vladimir Guerrero Jr was signed.  Lopez didn’t play any games that summer but came to work the next season. He is known as a very hard worker and scrappy type of ballplayer, which was on display in his first baseball season.

Lopez played 2017 in the Gulf Coast Rookie League as an 18-year old and played no less than five positions that season.  Lopez played both Left and center field, along with second base, third base, and shortstop. At the plate, Lopez batted .275 with 10 extra-base hits over 178 at-bats.

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In 2018, Lopez was sent to Bluefield but after just seven games it was apparent his skills were advanced that level and he was moved up to Vancouver (Single-A short season).  In his seven games in Bluefield, Lopez had batted .364 with five doubles and two triples.  In Vancouver, Lopez continued to display his hitting skills as he finished batting .297 and his on-base average finished just below .400.  Defensively, Lopez continued to develop his skill throughout the infield positions, as well as still getting some time in the outfield.

Lopez completely broke out in 2019 when he spent the entire season with the Lansing Lugnuts.  At the conclusion of the season, he won the Midwest League batting title with a .324 batting average.  Lopez also hit 20 doubles with 20 stolen bases over 108 games and played the majority of his defense at shortstop, but was still being played at both second base and left field.

For the first time, Lopez played in the Dominican Winter League this past offseason where he was the youngest player on his team and was able to still hold a batting average of .289.  Lopez played all his time at second base making just one error over 57 chances for a .989 Fielding.

Hitting
At every level that Lopez has played at, he has been one of the youngest players in the league and he has been able to hit very well for average and get on base.  Lopez was a very calm and compact swing which at one point limits your power, but with Lopez’s size, he is looking for more contact and putting the ball in play. Through three minor league seasons and 217 games, Lopez posts a .310 average and .374 on-base percentage.  Lopez’s bat is what will likely get him to the majors.

Defense
Lopez has continually played both the middle infield and left field as he has climbed through the Blue Jays system.  It is doubtful that Lopez will ever see time on Toronto’s roster as a full-time infielder due to the high-end young talent they already have.  However, his ability to play each infield position accompanied by his ability to play the outfield makes him a super-utility player that any team, including the Blue Jays could use.

Through three minor league seasons, Lopez has played 99 games at shortstop, 54 games at second base, 25 games at left field, 24 games at third base and 16 games between center and right field.  This versatility will become a key tool for him making the major leagues.

Future
Although Lopez is ranked #28 on the prospect list, I feel he has a really good chance of playing on the Blue Jays at some point in 2021.  Lopez is being molded into a perfect utility player that can play both middle infield positions as well as the outfield.

I don’t think Lopez will ever become an everyday player with the Blue Jays just because the high-end talent ahead of him, but looks like a solid player to make the active roster.

Do you think Lopez has a future with the Blue Jays?