Marlins' Otto Lopez Appreciative of All-Star Experience

Not many Major League Baseball players can say they were designated for assignment twice before making a name for themselves. 

Miami Marlins shortstop Otto Lopez turned that into motivation and, as a result, is an All-Star for the first time in his career. 

"This is always something I've dreamed of since I was a kid," Lopez told Fish on First at All-Star Media Day on Monday.

Lopez was one of three hitters to get a hit for the National League, which fell to the American League 4-0 on Tuesday in Philadelphia. It was the first shutout in an All-Star Game since 2013. 

“It was very emotional,” Lopez said on Tuesday. “I got chills from getting to the field and that’s something very special.”

Lopez bounced around early throughout his professional career, signing with the Toronto Blue Jays as an international free agent in 2016. He spent some time in the Blue Jays' minor league system, but was ultimately designated for assignment on Feb. 9, 2024.

Four days later, the club traded Lopez to the San Francisco Giants, who optioned him to their Triple-A affiliate to begin the season. 

On April 1, the team designated Lopez for assignment.

Looking for work, the Marlins swooped in and claimed Lopez off waivers. 

After opening as the team's second baseman in 2025, the club decided it was best to switch the positions of Xavier Edwards from shortstop to second base and Lopez to full-time shortstop. 

You could say the move paid off.

In what was a non-playoff season for Miami last year, Lopez showed Marlins manager Clayton McCullough and the coaching staff what he is capable of as a major leaguer, finishing the season with 15 home runs, 77 RBIs, and 134 hits in 544 plate appearances. 

The first half of the 2026 campaign has been a record-setting one for the 27-year-old. 

Through the first 97 games, Lopez leads the league in batting average (.334) and hits (127), and has also set Marlins first-half franchise records. 

If the Marlins are to clinch their first playoff berth since 2023, they're going to need Lopez to continue producing at the plate and with his glove. 

Lopez was not the starting shortstop for the National League. That honor went to Washington Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams won the starting job for the National League through the annual MLB fan ballot. 

This week is a dream come true for Lopez, his wife Marle and their daughter Amelia, but it is also a reminder that anything you put your mind to, even when it seems like a far-fetched idea, is possible.

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