Yoan López

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Yoan López
López with the Mets in 2022
Algodoneros de Unión Laguna – No. 35
Pitcher
Born: (1993-01-02) January 2, 1993 (age 31)
Nueva Gerona, Cuba
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Professional debut
MLB: September 9, 2018, for the Arizona Diamondbacks
NPB: March 31, 2023, for the Yomiuri Giants
MLB statistics
(through 2022 season)
Win–loss record3–8
Earned run average4.39
Strikeouts92
NPB statistics
(through September 30, 2023)
Win–loss record0–1
Earned run average4.05
Strikeouts2
Teams

Yoan López Leyva (born January 2, 1993) is a Cuban professional baseball pitcher for the Algodoneros de Unión Laguna of the Mexican League. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Arizona Diamondbacks and the New York Mets, and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Yomiuri Giants.

Career[edit]

Arizona Diamondbacks[edit]

López played three seasons for the Isla de la Juventud in the Cuban National Series.[1] He defected from Cuba in 2014 to pursue a career in Major League Baseball (MLB). In his final season in Cuba, he had a 3.12 earned run average (ERA) with 28 strikeouts in 49 innings pitched.[2] He received interest from numerous teams, including the New York Yankees, San Francisco Giants and San Diego Padres[3][4] before signing with the Arizona Diamondbacks.[5] In 2015, he played for both the Arizona League Diamondbacks of the Rookie-level Arizona League and the Mobile BayBears of the Class AA Southern League, pitching to a combined 2–6 record and 4.17 ERA in 54 innings between both teams.

In 2016, López pitched for Mobile. He struggled, posting a 5.52 ERA in 62 innings, and left the team with the intention to retire.[6] However, he returned to the organization in September 2016 to pitch for the Diamondbacks' Arizona League affiliate. He spent 2017 with the Visalia Rawhide of the Class A-Advanced California League and posted a 2–0 record with a 0.88 ERA along with 56 strikeouts in 30+23 innings.[7] In 2018, he pitched for the Jackson Generals of the Southern League.

The Diamondbacks promoted him to the major leagues on September 3.[8] López faced the Atlanta Braves six days later in his major league debut, giving up 2 home runs and a triple in his first 8 pitches.[9] In 2019, he pitched out of the bullpen for Arizona, appearing in 70 games. In 2020, López pitched to a 5.95 ERA with 16 strikeouts and 9 walks in 19.2 innings of work.[10] After recording a 6.57 ERA in 13 appearances, López was designated for assignment on May 20, 2021.[11]

Atlanta Braves[edit]

On May 22, 2021, López was traded to the Atlanta Braves in exchange for Deivi Estrada and was assigned to the Triple-A Gwinnett Stripers.[12] In 32 appearances for Triple-A Gwinnett, López went 3–2 with a 3.03 ERA and 35 strikeouts. On November 22, López was designated for assignment by the Braves.[13]

New York Mets[edit]

On November 29, 2021, López was claimed off of waivers by the Philadelphia Phillies.[14] On March 16, 2022, López was designated for assignment by Philadelphia after the signing of Odúbel Herrera was made official.[15] On March 18, he was claimed again, this time by the Miami Marlins.[16] On March 27, 2022, Lopez was designated for assignment following the waiver claim of Tommy Nance.[17]

On March 29, 2022, López was claimed off of waivers for a third time, by the New York Mets.[18] On May 2, López was suspended 3 games and fined following an incident in which he intentionally threw a pitch at Philadelphia Phillies batter Kyle Schwarber.[19]

He was released on December 21, 2022.

Yomiuri Giants[edit]

On December 22, 2022, López signed with the Yomiuri Giants of Nippon Professional Baseball.[20] In 8 games for the Giants in 2023, he pitched to a 4.05 ERA with 2 strikeouts in 6+23 innings pitched. On November 27, 2023, Yomiuri announced that López would not be returning to the club the following year.[21]

Algodoneros de Unión Laguna[edit]

On February 26, 2024, López signed with the Algodoneros de Unión Laguna of the Mexican League.[22]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Yoan López… De Isla de la Juventud a San Pedro de Macorís por un gran sueño
  2. ^ Yankees de New York ponen el ojo en lanzador cubano Yoan López
  3. ^ Another Yoan (Lopez) on the radar
  4. ^ MLB hot stove: Yankees interested in hard-throwing Cuban Yoan Lopez?
  5. ^ Badler, Ben (January 13, 2015). "Diamondbacks Agree To Sign Yoan Lopez". Baseball America. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
  6. ^ "Diamondbacks prospect Yoan Lopez leaves team again".
  7. ^ "Yoan Lopez Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". Retrieved January 16, 2018.
  8. ^ Piecoro, Nick; Morin, Richard (September 3, 2018). "Diamondbacks promote prospect Yoan Lopez as bullpen reinforcement". Arizona Republic. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
  9. ^ Bowman, Mark (September 9, 2018). "9th-inning homers power Braves' series win". MLB.com. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
  10. ^ "2020 Arizona Diamondbacks Reviews #26: Yoan Lopez". 11 December 2020.
  11. ^ "Diamondbacks Select Josh Reddick, Designate Yoan Lopez".
  12. ^ "Braves Acquire Yoan Lopez From Diamondbacks". mlbtraderumors.com.
  13. ^ "Braves Acquire Jay Jackson, Designate Yoan Lopez". mlbtraderumors.com.
  14. ^ "Phillies Claim Yoan Lopez, Designate Roman Quinn". mlbtraderumors.com.
  15. ^ "Phillies' Yoan Lopez: DFA'd by Philadelphia". cbssports.com. Retrieved 2023-01-07.
  16. ^ "Marlins DFA Monte Harrison, Sign Delino DeShields Jr".
  17. ^ "Marlins Claim Tommy Nance, Designate Yoan Lopez". March 27, 2022. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
  18. ^ "Mets Claim Yoan Lopez Off Waivers From Marlins". March 29, 2022. Retrieved March 29, 2022.
  19. ^ "Showalter suspended for opener vs. Braves". mlb.com. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
  20. ^ https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/28b8cfce1bd8bdbab8b6b3b86cc0312e08c60d12
  21. ^ "Giant Griffin, Mendes, Baldonado will remain next season. Beady, Lopez and Brinson are leaving". news.yahoo.co.jp. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
  22. ^ "LMB: Movimientos en listas de reserva - 26 de febrero de 2024". milb.com. Retrieved February 27, 2024.

External links[edit]