Off the mound, not much is known about Reynaldo Lopez. The 22-year-old Dominican-born pitcher is in the midst of his first full Major League season and, despite the recent success of Dylan Covey, he’s been the best pitcher in the White Sox starting rotation.
Lopez is generally soft-spoken in his postgame interviews, maintains an even-keel demeanor in the dugout and sporadically posts to his Instagram with glimpses into his personal life.
He agreed to a sit-down with me and our crew and we met him at 90 Miles Cuban Cafe on a sunny afternoon. He admitted that on game days, he’s usually too caught up in his routine to even think of food, so it wasn’t too surprising when he declined to eat the platefuls of piping-hot empanadas as I asked him questions. (He opted for a Cuban coffee but did order a strawberry milkshake when the interview finished).
He didn’t immediately open up. Instead, in typical pitcher fashion, he needed a few warm-up pitches.
We talked about a variety of topics: How he loves Chicago but hates the traffic and can’t stand the cold. The excitement and nervousness he feels about the baby girl he and his wife are expecting this July.
The more we talk, the more I realize: He’s just a humble kid who grew up on a finca (ranch), mature beyond his years.
Lopez comes from modest beginnings. He was raised by his grandparents and his eyes light up when he tells the story of how he got his first glove.
MLB
He recounts the life-changing day and much more in the video above.