Rodrigo López Muñoz (born December 14, 1975) is a Mexican former professional
baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball games, bat-and-ball sport played between two team sport, teams of nine players each, taking turns batting (baseball), batting and Fielding (baseball), fielding. The game occurs over the course of several Pitch ...
pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("Pitch (baseball), pitches") the Baseball (ball), baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of out (baseball), retiring a batter (baseball), batter, ...
and
sportscaster. López was a
pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("Pitch (baseball), pitches") the Baseball (ball), baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of out (baseball), retiring a batter (baseball), batter, ...
in the
Mexican League
The Mexican Baseball League (, or LMB, ) is a professional baseball league in Mexico. It is the oldest running professional sports league in the country.
The league has 20 teams organized in two divisions, North and South. Teams play 114 games ...
in when the
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are an American professional baseball team based in San Diego. The Padres compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Division. ...
of
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball league composed of 30 teams, divided equally between the National League (baseball), National League (NL) and the American League (AL), with 29 in the United States and 1 in Canada. MLB i ...
(MLB) purchased his contract.
Career
San Diego Padres
He worked his way up to the major leagues with the Padres, when he made his debut on April 29, . López did not appear in the majors in , but spent the entire year with the High Single-A
Lake Elsinore Storm
The Lake Elsinore Storm are a Minor League Baseball team based in Lake Elsinore, California. The Storm compete in the California League as the Single-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres. The team plays its home games at Lake Elsinore Diamond, w ...
and Triple-A
Portland Beavers
The Portland Beavers was the name of separate minor league baseball teams, which represented Portland, Oregon, in the Pacific Coast League (PCL). The team was established in 1903, the first year of the PCL.
Franchise history
Many baseball teams h ...
. He became a free agent after the 2001 season.
Baltimore Orioles
López joined the
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles (also known as the O's) are an American professional baseball team based in Baltimore. The Orioles compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East Division. As one of the America ...
in where he went 15–9 and in the process was runner-up for
AL Rookie of the Year.
was a disappointment for López, as he went 7–10 in an injury-marred campaign. In , he was moved to
middle relief but pitched his way back into the starting rotation. That year, his record was 14–9.
Colorado Rockies
On January 12, , he was traded to the
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are an American professional baseball team based in Denver. The Rockies compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Division. Th ...
for minor leaguers
Jason Burch and
Jim Miller. López left a start against the
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are an American professional baseball team based in Los Angeles. The Dodgers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Div ...
on July 26, 2007, in the seventh inning with an elbow injury, and he later underwent
Tommy John surgery
Ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction, sometimes referred to as Tommy John surgery is a surgical graft procedure where the ulnar collateral ligament in the medial elbow is replaced with either a tendon from elsewhere in the patient's body, ...
on August 22, 2007. In 14 starts for the Rockies, López went 5–4 with an ERA of 4.42, with 43 strikeouts. He also went 5–1 with an ERA of 3.63 at
Coors Field
Coors Field is a baseball stadium in downtown Denver, Colorado. It is the ballpark of Major League Baseball's Colorado Rockies. Opened in 1995 Major League Baseball season, 1995, the park is located in Denver's LoDo, Lower Downtown neighborhood, ...
. After the 2007 season, he became a free agent.
Atlanta Braves
On August 22, , exactly one year after his surgery, he signed a minor league contract with the
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are an American professional baseball team based in the Atlanta metropolitan area. The Braves compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Eas ...
. The contract included the rest of 2008, and , with a major league option. He started his Braves career by pitching for the
Gulf Coast League Braves
The Florida Complex League Braves are an American baseball team. They are the Rookie-level affiliate of the Atlanta Braves, competing in the Florida Complex League of Minor League Baseball. Prior to 2021, the team was known as the Gulf Coast Lea ...
, before being promoted to Single-A
Rome
Rome (Italian language, Italian and , ) is the capital city and most populated (municipality) of Italy. It is also the administrative centre of the Lazio Regions of Italy, region and of the Metropolitan City of Rome. A special named with 2, ...
. He was released by the Braves in November 2008.
Philadelphia Phillies
On March 5, 2009, López signed a minor league contract with the
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are an American professional baseball team based in Philadelphia. The Phillies compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East Division. Since 2004, the team's home stadium has ...
. He was called up to the Phillies from the Triple-A
Lehigh Valley IronPigs
The Lehigh Valley IronPigs are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League (IL) and the Triple-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies. They are located in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and they are named in reference to pig iron, used ...
on July 3, 2009, and started that night against the
New York Mets
The New York Mets are an American professional baseball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of Queens. The Mets compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National ...
, allowing two runs in 6 innings to pick up the win in a 7–2 Phillies victory. It was his first win in the major leagues since he defeated the Phillies on July 7, 2007, as a member of the Colorado Rockies. On September 9, he was released by the Phillies.
Arizona Diamondbacks
López was signed to a minor league contract by the
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are an American professional baseball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. The Diamondbacks compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West Division. The franchise was established ...
on December 16, 2009. On March 30, 2010, Lopez was named the Diamondbacks' 4th starter after having a productive spring training compiling a 2.35 ERA in 5 games with 4 game starts in 15.1 innings.
His regular season was disappointing, however, with an ERA of a flat 5.00 starting in 33 games. He won 7 games, and lost 16.
Atlanta Braves
On January 31, 2011, López signed a minor league contract with the
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are an American professional baseball team based in the Atlanta metropolitan area. The Braves compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Eas ...
. Atlanta sent him to Triple A at the end of Spring training where he started Opening Day for the
Gwinnett Braves
The Gwinnett Stripers are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League (IL) and the Triple-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves. They play their home games at Coolray Field in unincorporated Gwinnett County, Georgia (with a Lawrencevi ...
.
Chicago Cubs
He was traded to the
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The Cubs compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Central Division. Th ...
on May 26, 2011, for
Ryan Buchter.
On April 23, 2012, Lopez was
designated for assignment
Designated for assignment (DFA) is a contractual term used in Major League Baseball (MLB). A player who is designated for assignment is immediately removed from the team's 40-man roster, after which the team must, within seven days, return the pla ...
to make room on the roster for newly acquired
Michael Bowden. After clearing waivers, he was sent back to Triple-A
Iowa
Iowa ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the upper Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders the Mississippi River to the east and the Missouri River and Big Sioux River to the west; Wisconsin to the northeast, Ill ...
.
Broadcasting career
On December 6, 2013, the Diamondbacks announced that López was hired to join their Spanish language radio broadcast team as the color analyst alongside play-by-play announcer Oscar Soria.
Personal life
His parents are Isabel and Raúl López, he has a brother named Raúl as his father. They live in Mexico City.
He is married to Romy, and the couple have two boys: Rodrigo Jr. (born March 7, 2003) and Raymond (born March 17, 2005).
References
External links
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lopez, Rodrigo
1975 births
Living people
Arizona Diamondbacks announcers
Arizona Diamondbacks players
Arizona League Padres players
Baltimore Orioles players
Bowie Baysox players
Chicago Cubs players
Clinton LumberKings players
Colorado Rockies players
Colorado Springs Sky Sox players
Diablos Rojos del México players
Gulf Coast Braves players
Gwinnett Braves players
Idaho Falls Braves players
Iowa Cubs players
Lake Elsinore Storm players
Las Vegas Stars (baseball) players
Lehigh Valley IronPigs players
Major League Baseball players from Mexico
Major League Baseball pitchers
Mexican expatriate baseball players in the United States
Mexican League baseball pitchers
Mobile BayBears players
Petroleros de Poza Rica players
Philadelphia Phillies players
Portland Beavers players
Rojos del Águila de Veracruz players
Rome Braves players
San Diego Padres players
2006 World Baseball Classic players
2009 World Baseball Classic players
2013 World Baseball Classic players
Sportspeople from Tlalnepantla de Baz
World Baseball Classic players of Mexico