Otto Lopez began his career in the Blue Jays organization before getting designated for assignment in 2024.
Miami Marlins infielder Otto Lopez finished the 2026 season with 191 hits, and while he didn't win the National League batting title, he did finish with the most hits in baseball.
The 28-year-old, who represented Canada at the 2026 World Baseball Classic, hit .305 with 11 home runs, 71 RBIs and 34 stolen bases. He posted a .349 on-base percentage and is one of the main reasons for optimism among Marlins fans.
But, did you remember that he actually began his professional career with the Toronto Blue Jays?
In 2017, Lopez played 51 games for the Rookie League Blue Jays, hitting .275 with seven stolen bases. In 2018, he played 58 total games, including 51 at Low-A Vancouver. He hit .308 in total, showing his solid bat-to-ball skills.
In 2019, he moved up to Lansing (High-A), hitting .324 and then he was forced to miss the 2020 season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2021, Lopez was back on the field for a combination of Double-A New Hampshire and Triple-A Buffalo, and once again, all he did was hit. He hit .315 with five homers and 64 RBIs between the two and then he hit .297 in 91 games for Buffalo in 2022.
He made his major league debut with the Blue Jays in 2022, going 6-for-9 in eight games, but he still didn't get a regular big league chance. He played only 84 Triple-A games in 2023, hitting .258 and he was designated for assignment and traded in 2024.
Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Otto Lopez (51) scores a run against the Minnesota Twins during the third inning at Lee County Sports Complex. Kim Klement-USA TODAY SportsHe was traded to the San Francisco Giants, where he went just 1-for-6 in Triple-A before being let go again. The Marlins picked him up and the rest is history. He hit .270 in 117 big league games in 2024, then hit .246 in 2025 before putting up the incredible year this season.
Did it make sense for Jays to move on from him?
It's always tough to play 'Monday Morning Quarterback' on this stuff. Lopez was a solid player in the minors, but he was heading into his age 25 season in 2024 and he was coming off an injury in 2023. Roster concerns are real, and sometimes, moves just have to be made.
Plus, at the time, the Blue Jays had Andres Gimenez under long-term contract and they probably figured that they'd have Bo Bichette for years, so there wasn't any immediate room for Lopez at the big-league level with Toronto.
